Andy Murray unsure if Rafael Nadal will be motivated enough to play at the same level after the birth of his first son

Andy Murray unsure if Rafael Nadal will be motivated enough to play at the same level after the birth of his first son

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Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray recently said in an interview that it will be interesting to see if 22-time Major winner Rafael Nadal, who recently became a father for the first time, is still motivated enough to play at the same level, adding he is not sure how it would unfold.

Murray made the statement while speaking at Spanish radio program El Larguero, along the sidelines of the ATP 250 Gijon event where he is due to compete in the first round against home player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday.

“Now, I believe he and his girlfriend had their first child a few days ago. It will be interesting to see if it increases the level of motivation or if it reduces the number of his competitions, I do not know,” said the former world number 1.

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Also Read: “Baby bull in town” Tennis Twitter elated after Rafael Nadal and his wife Maria blessed with a baby boy

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However, Murray did underline the fact that Nadal had an incredible year so far. “He had an incredible year. I think the Australian Open was an exceptional event for him. Coming back from injury, he hadn’t played for a long time and the way he won the tournament… He had a lot of tough games, he could have lost a few, really. In the final he trailed two sets to nil, 2–3, 0–40 and he managed to turn things around,” the Brit said in the interview.

What is the name of Rafael Nadal’s baby?

Rafael Nadal with his wife Maria
Rafael Nadal with his wife Maria

According to rumors, the parents have decided to name their child Rafael, which has been well-received by the fans. The boy could also be named after Nadal’s father, Sebastian, which is again a common name in Spain. Fans should expect a confirmation from the family in the upcoming week.

Nadal has not played much tennis after yet another successful clay-court season. The Spaniard did manage to make an appearance in all four slams this year, where he was forced to retire after making it to the semifinals of Wimbledon 2022.

Recently, Rafael Nadal teamed up with Roger Federer at the Laver Cup 2022, in what was the Swiss maestro’s final professional match. The pair ended up on the losing side, but certainly gave their fans a memory to cherish.

Nadal and Maria Francisca Perello got hitched in 2019, after being in a long-term relationship. The couple are all set to seek a new adventure, after welcoming a new born into their lives.

Also Read: Roger Federer once yelled ‘SHUT UP’ at the crowd during his heated quarterfinal clash against Juan Martin del Potro at the French Open

Also Read: Taylor Fritz opens up about his dream milestone of making it into the Top 10