BABY STEPS
I’m a tennis legend with career earnings of £107million, but I’d rather my son make his own way in a different sport
A host of rising tennis stars are following in their legendary parents' footsteps
RAFAEL NADAL is undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
But he does not want his baby boy to follow in his footsteps into the sport.
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Nadal, 37, has racked up an incredible 22 Grand Slam singles titles - including a record 14 at the French Open.
That puts him second on the men's all-time list behind great rival Novak Djokovic.
Nadal also boasts an Olympic gold medal, 92 ATP titles, 209 weeks as world No1 and was ranked inside the top ten from April 2005 to March 2023.
His prize money on the courts stands at a staggering £107million - before adding the millions from various sponsorships with Nike, Babolat, Kia and luxury watchmakers Richard Mille.
But as he nears the end of his illustrious, injury-hit career - Nadal missed the 2024 Australian Open with a hip problem - the Spaniard has started a family with his wife Mery Francisca Perello.
They welcomed their first child, son Rafael Junior, in October 2022.
But still less than 18 months old, Nadal Sr has made it clear he would prefer his youngster to pursue a career away from the tennis court.
The two-time Wimbledon winner told La Sexta: "I would prefer if he plays another sport, if I’m being honest.
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"It pains me to say it with everything that tennis has given me.
"If he wants to play tennis, I will support him 100 per cent.
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"I would never veto his decision to play tennis, but if he plays another sport, even better."
Rafael Junior will no doubt have plenty of options should he want to go into sport.
As well as being arguably the GOAT of tennis, his dad is also a very good golfer, recently set up his own padel and electric boat teams and co-owns an esports franchise.
Meanwhile, great-uncle Miguel Angel played football for Barcelona and Spain.
Rafael Nadal tennis career
- 14 French Opens
- 4 US Opens
- 2 Wimbledons
- 2 Australian Opens
- Olympic gold singles
- Olympic gold doubles
- Youngest man to win Career Golden Slam
- 92 ATP titles
- 36 Masters titles
- Won ATP titles in record 19 consecutive years
- Qualified for ATP Finals 17 times
- 23 wins vs world No1
- 209 weeks as world No1
- 912 weeks consecutive in Top 10 (Apr '05 to Mar '23)
- 112-3 record at Roland Garros (97.4 per cent win rate)
- 5 x ATP Player of the Year
- 2010 BBC Sports Personality World Star
- £107million career earnings
However, should Rafael Junior opt to try his hand at tennis, he would not be the first child of a tennis legend to give it a go.
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Bjorn Borg's son Leo is making his way on the court and even admitted Nadal is his idol, rather than his stylish Swede father.
Elsewhere, Lleyton Hewitt's kid Cruz, Brandon Holt the son of Tracey Austin, Goran Ivanisevic's son Emanuel and Seb Korda - child of Petr - are all hoping to emulate their famous parents.
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