Nadal lifts lid on emotions of leaving son at home ahead of comeback

Rafael Nadal opened up on leaving his newborn son at home to play the Paris Masters (Image: Getty)Rafael Nadal has opened up on the emotions of competing on the tour as a father for the first time. The world No 2 is making his comeback at the Paris Masters after taking some time away following the US Open as he continued to recover from an abdominal tear sustained at Wimbledon and welcomed his first child with Mery Perello.Nadal is back in action at this week’s Paris Masters after almost two months away from competition. As well as his first official tournament since the US Open, the final Masters 1000 of the year also marks the Spaniard’s first event since becoming a father, as he and his wife welcomed a son last month.The 22-time Grand Slam champion had been warned by his uncle Toni over the difficulty of competing as a father, and has now lifted the lid on how it feels to be away from his son for the first time. ‘It has always been difficult to leave home to be honest,’ the second seed in Paris admitted.And Nadal said it had become tough after welcoming his first child, adding: ‘Now it’s different again. After three weeks knowing my son, it’s a difficult experience in life to have to miss him, you have to adapt to it.’JUST IN: Raducanu told how to use Djokovic to improve after injury ends season Rafael Nadal has not played professionally since losing at the US Open (Image: Getty)The Spaniard was still happy to be back in action following his fourth-round loss in Flushing Meadows, and explained how he planned to stay in touch with his family. ‘But we are lucky to make video calls any time we want,’ he added.’I’m good, I’m happy to be on the tour again, in a city very important for me, as everyone knows. Just trying to put myself in the position to be competitive.’ Nadal will be hoping to win his maiden trophy at the Paris Masters this week, one of the titles that has always eluded him despite his success at the nearby French Open.DON’T MISSEmma Raducanu called out for coach history as ‘red flags’ discussedTennis ace aged 14 punched by dad in attack as Djokovic called to helpJack Draper to be part of Next Gen trial as players to face new rules Rafael Nadal and Mery Perello recently became parents for the first time (Image: Getty)