WATCH: Rafael Nadal's son, accompanied by grandmother Ana Maria, steals the show during Spaniard's Paris Olympics doubles opener with Carlos Alcaraz

S Shahi
(Left to Right) Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and family (Source: Getty Images)
(Left to Right) Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and family (Source: Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal's baby son Rafa Jr. stole the show with his cute behaviour and expressions while watching his father play at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The one-year-old boy was spotted in the stands during Nadal’s opening doubles match on July 27, along with his mother Maria Francisca Perello and grandmother Ana Maria Parera.

Nadal and Alcaraz, who are representing Spain in the men’s doubles event, defeated the sixth-seeded Argentine duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-6(4), 6-4 to advance to the second round. They will next face either the Dutch duo of Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof or the Hungarian pair of Marton Fucsovics and Fabian Marozsan.

Several pictures and videos from the match were subsequently shared online, where Rafa Jr was seen sitting in the lap of his grandmother Ana Maria Parera, watching the match with curiosity and excitement. His mother, Nadal's wife Maria Francisca Perello, was also by his side, cheering for her husband and his partner Carlos Alcaraz.

Check out pictures and videos from the match:

The Paris Olympics could be Nadal's last appearance at the prestigious event, as he has hinted at retirement after struggling with injuries and missing most of the 2023 season.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has won two gold medals in his Olympic career - one in singles at Beijing 2008 and one in doubles at Rio 2016 with Marc Lopez.

Rafael Nadal also had the honor of carrying the Olympic torch alongside other tennis stars like Serena Williams and Amelie Mauresmo.


Rafael Nadal faces Marton Fucsovics in Paris singles opener, eyes Novak Djokovic showdown

The Spaniard at the 2024 French Open (Source: Getty)
The Spaniard at the 2024 French Open (Source: Getty)

Rafael Nadal will begin his campaign for a third gold in Paris when he takes on Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in the first round of the men’s singles event on July 28.

Fucsovics, ranked 83rd in the world, will try to pull off a huge upset against the Spaniard, whom he has never faced before. The 32-year-old won a clay title at the Tiriac Open Bucharest in Romania in April 2024, where he defeated Mariano Navone 6-4, 7-5 in the final.

If Rafael Nadal gets past Fucsovics, he would set up a blockbuster second-round clash with his longtime rival and top seed Novak Djokovic, who defeated Matthew Ebden 6-0, 6-1 to reach the second round.

The Serb and the Spaniard have played each other 59 times, with the former leading 30-29. They have also faced each other once at the Olympics, with Nadal winning 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the 2008 Beijing semifinals.

What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here

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Edited by Neelabhra Roy
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