Rafa will have to drag himself to Australia:Uncle Toni

New father Rafael Nadal will have to make the supreme effort to travel to Australia in January.

That’s the warning from Toni Nadal, uncle and former coach of his world-class nephew, who now boasts a weeks-old son.

The elder Nadal, who now runs Nadal’s tennis academy on the family’s home island of Mallorca said that the long trip to the Australian Open will be an emotional challenge for his 36-year-old nephew.

“Both Rafa and (wife) Xisca are very happy.,” Toni told the Mallorca Daily Bulletin. : 

“She has had to rest in recent weeks (of her pregnancy) but it was nothing bad. Rafa is fine and very excited and I am sure he will be a great father.”

Toni added: “Rafa will (balance) the world of sports and fatherhood with total normality. 

“It’s nothing special – many other athletes such as footballers also do this.”

But Nadal warned: “Travelling to Australia for the first time will be complicated.

 But being away from your son is the price you have to pay.” 

Nadal will get a taste of his new life next month when he embarks on a five-nation exhibition tour in far-away South and Central America with world NO. 3 Casper Ruud.

Main photo:- Rafa Nadal winning Australian Open 2022 – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Halep seething over Swiatek wrist-slap doping penalty

Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…

3 weeks ago

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

1 month ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

1 month ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

1 month ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

1 month ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

2 months ago