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Rafael Nadal spent nearly two decades as one of the dominant forces in men’s tennis, forming part of the so-called “Big Three” alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. He held the world No. 1 ranking for 209 weeks, won 22 Grand Slam titles—including a record 14 French Open championships—and an Olympic gold medal.
Despite his illustrious career, his biggest fan only occasionally appeared in his box at tennis matches. That’s because Rafael and his wife, Mery Perelló, tend to keep their relationship private. “Traveling together everywhere, even if I could, would not be good either for him or for me,” Mery told The Telegraph in 2011. “He needs his space when he is competing, and just the idea of me hanging around waiting on his needs all day wears me out. It would asphyxiate me. And then he would have to be worrying about me…No. If I followed him everywhere, I think there’s a risk we might stop getting along.”
Curious to learn more about Rafael Nadal’s wife? Here are five facts you need to know about Mery Perelló:
She and Rafael are from the same part of Spain.
Mery at Wimbledon in 2010.Julian Finney – Getty Images
Born María Francisca Perelló Pascual, she usually goes by “Mery” but also sometimes the nickname “Xisca.” Like Rafael, she is from Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands. Per her LinkedIn profile, she studied business management at the University of the Balearic Islands, graduating in 2010, and later attended ESADE, a graduate business school in Barcelona.
They have been together since 2005.
The couple at the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals Gala.Julian Finney – Getty Images
Rafael and Mery grew up in the same corner of Mallorca, and the two are believed to have been introduced through his younger sister, María Isabel “Maribel” Nadal, who was Mery’s close friend in high school. In his 2011 memoir, Rafa: My Story, Rafael confirmed they began dating in 2005. They made their first red carpet appearance together in November 2011 at an ATP World Tour Finals gala.
The couple tied the knot in 2019.
Rafael and Mery on their big day at La Fortaleza.Handout – Getty Images
After 15 years together, Rafael proposed to Mery while on vacation in Rome, though the couple kept the news private for eight months. They married on October 19, 2019 at La Fortaleza, a 17th-century castle in Mallorca that has been cited as one of the most expensive properties in Spain and served as a filming location for the BBC series The Night Manager. Around 350 guests attended, including former King of Spain Juan Carlos I.
Mery’s gown was made by Barcelona designer Rosa Clará. “The bodice, with jewel neckline and long sleeves, was made of beautiful Art Deco-inspired French lace with delicate patterning, flower motifs and microbeading on the meticulously hand-embroidered fabric,” Clará wrote on Instagram. “The ballgown-style skirt, made of silk crepe, featured a weightless detachable train, created in Rosa Clara’s Atelier.”
She helps run his foundation.
Mery speaking during the 2024 Rafa Nadal Foundation Awards.Europa Press News – Getty Images
Mery joined the Rafa Nadal Foundation in 2012 as a project manager and has since risen to Director General. She also serves as secretary for the foundation’s board of trustees. Founded in 2010, the organization uses sport to support the education and development of young people.
Her commitment to her community extends beyond the foundation. When flooding struck Mallorca in 2018, she and Rafael were photographed helping residents clean up the streets. “I really lived that tragedy, from very close,” Nadal told CNN Sport at the time. “Was very sad for all the people that lost the materials, but especially, the lives that can’t come back.”
In 2024, the couple was recognized for their foundation work at the Laureus World Sports Awards. “It is testament to the combined efforts of our committed team–both in Spain and India–who have helped bring meaningful change to young people’s lives,” Mery said in a statement at the time. “When I look at the other five Nominees for this Award–and the transformative work they are doing to spread the values at the heart of Laureus Sport for Good–it demonstrates the power of sport to transform society.”
They have two children together.
Mery, holding son Rafael Jr., as Rafael is honored at the 2025 French Open.Jean Catuffe – Getty Images
In June 2022, though he made clear it was not an opening for further questions about his personal life, Rafael announced the couple were expecting their first child. “I’m not used to talking about my private life,” he told reporters. “We live more peacefully with a lower profile. I don’t expect that my life will change much with it.”
The couple welcomed their first son, Rafael Jr., in October 2022, and their second, Miquel, in August 2025. Miquel was named after Mery’s father, who died in April 2023 following a lengthy illness.
She is a Marchioness.
Rafael and Mery (right) at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid.Patricia J. Garcinuno – Getty Images
In June 2025, King Felipe made Rafael (and by extension, Mery) Spanish nobility. Felipe bestowed the tennis ace with the unprecedented honor of becoming the new and first Marquis of Llevant de Mallorca, making Mery the Marchioness of Llevant de Mallorca. It was granted as hereditary right, so both of their sons are now in a line of succession for the noble title. The title itself takes its name from Nadal’s home region on the island of Mallorca.
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