Rafael Nadal has explained why he decided to play at the US Open while his wife was heavily pregnant with their first child.
Baby Rafael Jr was born on October 8 2022, but complications with the pregnancy required wife Mery Perello to spend time in hospital in September. During that time, the tennis legend was in America playing in Cincinnati before appearing at the US Open for the first time since 2019.
Doctors monitored the 34-year-old while he was away, but the 22-time Grand Slam champion was criticised by some for choosing to try and add to his record tally of major titles instead. But the former world number one has set the record straight on what influenced him to go and play across the pond at such a crucial time in his personal life.
