Rafael Nadal at the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar, an ATP Challenger Tour event in Mallorca, Spain. 

Rafael Nadal spoke of his gratitude on Friday on social media for the outpouring of affection he received upon the birth of his second son. The Spaniard, who welcomed Miquel into the world on August 7, shared a special personal moment during his time at the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar.

“After a few weeks off social media, I wanted to thank you all for the messages of love that you’ve sent in recent weeks following the birth of our second child,” said the Mallorcan, whose life off the court has given him plenty of reason to smile since bringing an end to his legendary career on the ATP Tour.

The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has spent recent days enjoying the immense sporting legacy he has generated in his home town, where he has created a prestigious international academy that hosts professional events in various disciplines. The Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar, an ATP Challenger Tour tournament organised by the Rafa Nadal Academy and one of the most attractive events on the calendar, is staging its seventh edition this week. The Manacor native was there on Thursday, enjoying the best of the tennis and appreciating the tournament’s growth.

“For the Academy it’s great to see players of this level. Playing at the facilities is good for the kids who train here. Also, for everyone who works at the facility all year round and lives and breathes tennis. Having a tournament of this calibre here is exciting for everyone,” said Nadal.

As well as the sporting aspect, Nadal noted the social impact generated by these kinds of events on his native island. “For Manacor and for Mallorca, having a sports event that becomes a social event generates positive things in every regard and allows people to enjoy themselves.” During the week, the tournament carries out several initiatives linked to local gastronomy, leisure and music for everyone to enjoy.

Nadal also wanted to highlight the importance of the ATP Challenger Tour in the context of international tennis: “It’s the rung below the tour people watch on television. In fact, a lot of players playing in these tournaments also play first-tier ones. The Challenger events and ITF tournaments are the ones where tennis players learn their trade before becoming a well-known player.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who won the Challenger events at El Espinar and Barletta when he was starting out, was full of praise on Spain’s commitment to increasing the number of these tournaments: “For Spain to have invested in and to have many ITF tournaments for so many years, and now investing in having many Challenger events, is great news for Spanish tennis players with limited resources, so they can continue to grow and compete at the top without having to travel around the world. This is a huge advantage and it’s something that Spain has done very well.”

The Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar takes place at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar until August 31, and tickets are free. Its winners’ circle includes Duje Ajdukovic (2024), Hamad Medjedovic (2023), Luca Nardi (2022), Lukas Lacko (2021), Emil Ruusuvuori (2019) and Bernard Tomic (2018).