Rafael Nadal won his 14th French Open title on Sunday, beating Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets in the final. His Roland Garros triumph also saw him claim his 22nd Grand Slam title, extending his lead over Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who have 20 Majors each.
In an interview with French magazine Paris Match, Nadal spoke about how crucial his family has been throughout his career. The Spaniard admitted that he would not have had such a successful career had it not been for the support of his loved ones.
“One of the keys to success was to stay at home. I never had any doubts about that. My career would have been very different if I hadn’t had my family. I am no longer a child! But it’s as if we all live in the same village. Everyone talks to each other and everyone knows each other. I am very close to my father, my mother. It is obvious when you see us together,” Nadal said.
Early in his life, the Spaniard had the option of moving to Barcelona but chose to stay in Mallorca, a decision that has definitely paid off.
“The Spanish Tennis Federation offered to move me to Barcelona. But my uncle – who was my coach – knew that in Mallorca, I was playing with a good group, surrounded by good players, and that everything was going well,” Nadal said.
Nadal married long-term girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello, who also hails from Mallorca, in 2019. The 36-year-old credited her for helping him grow.
