Rafael Nadal says he and his family are ‘very well’ after birth of first child
Rafa Nadal has revealed he and his wife Maria Sharapova are “absolutely fine” after welcoming the birth of their first child.
Nadal’s wife Maria, a former world number one, had suffered two caesareans, giving birth to their daughter, Iya, in December. The 20-year-old had previously been told by doctors she would not be able to have her second child because of the first pregnancy.
Maria, 41, told ITV News in December she was still in the hospital in Dubai for her first check-up after the pregnancy had been put off for three years by doctors.
In a statement on their Facebook page, the pair said: “Happy 1st Birthday to little Iya! We are absolutely fine and feel so blessed to have been blessed with this amazing gift.”
Rafa and Maria Nadal have two children, but the former world number one admits he is more “in the zone” now with his first.
The couple revealed they would be spending their first Christmas together at Wimbledon and their second together in Miami.
Maria, who is married to tennis pro Marcos Baghdatis, said: “This Christmas will be the happiest and most important of our lives.
“I don’t want to talk about us being pregnant and yet having to spend New Year’s Day with my daughter, our family and friends who will be celebrating for the first time together. But, just like every year, I want you to know I love you with all my heart.”
She said: “The fact that we have a daughter is the best thing of the world. You see, you never know what’s waiting for you in life. It’s a gift that we received at this time but it is a gift also, unfortunately, that we have to let go of.”
Maria also added: “I want to thank everybody who had wished us happy holidays