Rafael Nadal's huge net worth and rarely seen wife as tennis legend announces retirement

Rafael Nadal has announced he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the season

Tennis icon Rafael Nadal has made the announcement that he will hang up his racket at the end of this season. The remarkable 38 year old champion is set to take his final bow in the tennis arena during the Davis Cup finals in Malaga next month, where he'll compete for Spain one last time.

With an astonishing haul of 22 Grand Slam titles under his belt – including two victories at Wimbledon and an unprecedented 14 French Open singles titles – Nadal's career has been nothing short of legendary.

In an emotional statement captured on video, Nadal conveyed his decision: "I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been a few difficult years. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations.

"It is obviously a difficult decision. One that has taken me some time to make. In this life everything has a beginning and and end and I think it's the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been much longer and much more successful than I could ever have imagined."

Boasting not only the trophies from Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Nadal has clinched four US Open titles, along with two Australian Opens, further embellished by two Olympic gold medals and four Davis Cup victories. Such a sterling record places him among the elite Big Three in men’s tennis, rubbing shoulders with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and cements his status as one of the best players the game has ever seen, reports Wales Online.

The Spaniard has not only left an indelible mark on the sport's history books but also ensured a prosperous future for himself and his kin, retiring as the second-highest earner of prize money in the Open Era's entirety.

During his impressive 23-year career, Rafael Nadal has amassed a remarkable $135 million (£103m) in prize money, ranking him just behind Novak Djokovic on the all-time highest earners list. Throughout the years, Nadal has been involved with numerous sponsorship deals, including big names like Kia, Emporio Armani, PokerStars, and luxury watchmaker Richard Mille.

These lucrative deals contribute to his astounding estimated net worth of about $225 million (£168m), per Marca. With his retirement from tennis, Nadal can look forward to spending more quality time with his wife, Xisca Perello—a former sports marketer—and their two year old son, also named Rafael.

The family enjoy their lush £3 million mansion in Majorca.

Nadal and Xisca have shared over two decades of acquaintance and reportedly began their relationship in 2005. It took 14 years before the couple got engaged and then tied the knot at a sumptuous castle on the island of Majorca, celebrating with a grand wedding attended by approximately 350 guests.

Notable attendees included famous actors like Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Olivia Colman, alongside personalities from the tennis fraternity. .

While Nadal is a global sports icon, Xisca prefers a life away from the limelight. She is seldom seen at Nadal's matches and has expressed her desire for privacy.