Rafael Nadal is savoring every moment of his final matches, and tennis fans are relishing it alongside him. With the legend prepared to bid adieu following the Davis Cup Finals, the tennis world is inching towards the end of an era. But Nadal isn’t going quietly. He’s still delivering thrilling moments both on- and off-court reminding everyone why he’s a tennis icon. And of course, he’s adding a bit of his signature humor to the mix that we’ve gotten used to over the years. This time, Rafa had an amusing remark for his son, and fans can’t stop talking about it. 

The Spanish tennis legend played and eventually lost against his young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Six Kings Slam on Thursday. Despite the tournament not being counted in the ATP record books, the buzz for the match was palpable. But it was not just Nadal who garnered the spotlight during the match. His 2-year-old son also received immense love from the tennis community. 

Rafa Jr. was seen sitting in the stands, clapping and cheering, as his father faced Alcaraz. However, when asked about his presence, Nadal shared a cheeky complaint. “Since he arrived to the world I lost more than I won,” he said humorously. “At the same time having him here helps all the tough moments I’ve been through the last couple of years. He behaves very well even when it’s late. I’m happy,” Nadal added. But despite the complaint, the fans did not hesitate to express their immense love for Nadal’s kid. 

Nadal’s comment didn’t take long to go viral, and several users took to X to share their love for the kid. They highlighted that he has been one of the biggest achievements for Nadal and that he might be the one to fill Nadal’s boots going forward.

Fans express incredible adoration for Rafael Nadal’s son

One user wrote, “Couldn’t be lovelier. To retain a sense of humour even when it must hurt…😍& Baby Rafa is adorable.” When a player is on the brink of his retirement, he desires to win their final matches but the former World No. 1 isn’t able to do that. However, fans highlighted that maintaining humor and keeping calm in the face of adversity is something that defines the legendary player. Similar reactions continued to follow. 

Responding to the post, one user added to Nadal’s humor saying, “Rafa keeping it real lmfao 🤣🤣.” Nadal hasn’t played enough since the birth of his son in October 2022. In 2023, Nadal played only 4 matches and lost 3 of them. He suffered a severe hip injury that kept him away from the courts for most of the season and forced him to withdraw from all the Grand Slams except the Australian Open. In 2024 too, the star player lost 7 of the 19 matches he has played, which somehow justifies Nadal’s cheeky complaint. Meanwhile, more users joined the fray. 

Remember, this is not the first time when Rafa Jr. has garnered attention for his presence in the stands. As the Spanish legend took over his Swedish counterpart Leo Borg at the Swedish Open this year, his son was spotted watching him play from the stands. Dressed in a black jacket, he was accompanied by his mother, Maria. Fans were quick to share his pictures then as well and heaped immense love on him. 

One more user commented on the post, “This is one of his big achievements, having this angel in his life ❤️‍🩹.” Even the ‘King of Clay’ has highlighted similar sentiments and wished that he could play longer just for his son, despite his latest humorous complaint. Talking about his son, Nadal remarked, “I would love to play a little bit longer and give him a memory of myself playing tennis. That’s what will be the ideal thing for me and for my wife and family.” However, he admitted that it won’t be possible for him to do so. 

For now, it would be interesting to see if the legendary player can win a couple of matches before he waves his final goodbye to the sports arena. Will his son be present during his last few matches to cheer him? Good possibility! What are your thoughts on Rafa’s lovely comments on Rafa Jr. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.