Rafael Nadal is celebrating his 39th birthday! The beloved tennis star was recently honored at Roland Garros, the tournament he won 14 times in the past, more than any other player in the world. The celebration took place in a pivotal moment in Nadal's life, one when he is about to embrace a new stage in his life.
Nadal and his wife Mery Perello will be welcoming their second child at some point soon, representing a new side of parenthood for them both. The birth of their child follows Nadal's emotional retirement from tennis, which took place late last year after experiencing various injuries that didn't allow him to perform in his best form.
"Family is everything for me," said Nadal in a statement.
"My wife, Mery, we've been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you've done. I think you have been my perfect travel partner throughout all of these years of my career. Coming home every day and seeing how my son is growing up has been the strength that has kept me alive and energized to continue."
More details about Nadal's emotional appearance at Roland Garros
Late last month, Nadal was honored at Roland Garros, a tournament known for its clay courts, which have been Nadal's specialty throughout his tennis career. At the event's opening moments, Nadal was honored by the tournament and looked visibly emotional.
"This is hard," he said in a speech in French. "This is the most important tennis court of my career." He was joined by some of the most important figures of his career: his rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
The four men hugged each other on the court. "It means the world to me for you all to be here," said Nadal. "You made me go through some challenging moments in the court, honestly, but I enjoyed pushing myself to the limit to compete with all of you."