Rafael Nadal and wife welcome second child as name revealed

Rafael Nadal and his wife Maria Francisca Perello have welcomed their second child, four months after revealing they would be expanding their family. The couple already had a young son, named Rafael Nadal Jr, who was born three years ago. Back in April, they announced they were expecting a second child.

The big day arrived earlier this week, with their newest son Miquel being born on Thursday. The following day, several close family members visited the hospital to meet him for the first time, according to Spanish outlet Ultima Hora. Nadal and Perello reportedly left the hospital on Saturday with mother and child both doing well.

Perello had been flaunting her pregnancy at various events, including the Laureus Sports Awards in Madrid. Her last public appearance was at Disneyland Paris, shortly after Nadal was honoured with a plaque at the French Open.

Despite only being born this week, Miquel is already entitled to a prestigious honour from the King of Spain. His father was granted an aristocratic title earlier this year, in recognition of his immense contribution to his native land through sport.

Nadal is now formally known as the Marquis of Llevant de Mallorca, chosen for the Spanish island where he was born and still resides. The title is hereditary, meaning it can be handed down to his children.

The former tennis player opened up about his fatherhood journey last year, revealing that he always wanted to have children of his own.

"Everything surprises you because everything is new," he told E! News. "Especially the first kid you have, everything is 100 per cent new for my wife and for me. You learn every day and every day is unexpected.

"I have always been a kids guy. I always enjoyed spending time with the kids, I had plenty of smaller cousins than me so I had a lot of fun with them when they were babies. I can say nothing negative."

Nadal also discussed how much his life had changed since becoming a father for the first time, a process which takes a huge amount of dedication.

"It's a radical change, no doubt about that," he said. "I think everyone that's a father or a mother knows that it's a change. You have to adapt to it.

"It doesn't change me for a simple fact, because I know what my partner thinks. It would change me if I had a partner that didn't want to travel and wanted to stay in Mallorca all the time with my son."

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