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Rafa Nadal and Gabriela Sabatini news sends tennis fans into frenzy

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Tennis icon Gabriele Sabatini (pictured right) during a video and (pictured left) Rafa Nadal speaking to the media.
Tennis icon Gabriela Sabatini (pictured right) has reached out to Rafa Nadal (pictured left) and asked if he wanted to play mixed doubles during his exhibition match in Argentina later this year. (Getty Images)

Rafa Nadal is set to take part in a mixed doubles match with former tennis star Gabriela Sabatini after announcing he would play in an exhibition tournament with Casper Ruud.

Just before the birth of his first child, Nadal confirmed he would take part in an exhibition tour in South America with World No.2 Ruud.

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The exhibition matches will take place after the ATP Finals in Turin, which both players have already qualified for later this year.

However, 80s and 90s tennis icon Sabatini took to social media to extend Nadal an enticing offer while he is in Argentina during the South American tour.

"Hi Rafael, I have a proposal for you. What do you think?" she started.

The 52-year-old went on to ask of Nadal would be willing to play a mixed doubles match in her home town during the event.

And reports suggest Nadal has accepted the invitation and will team up with Sabatini against Ruud and a partner.

Tennis fans were quick to praise the awesome link up as a 'dream team'.

Sabatini was one of the biggest tennis stars in the late 80s and early 90s.

A fierce rival to icon Steffi Graf, Sabatini became the youngest ever semi-finalist at Roland Garros at just 14 years old.

She went on to finally defeat Graf in the 1990 US Open final to claim her only singles grand slam title, after also winning the Wimbledon doubles title in 1988.

Tennis great Gabriela Sabatini (pictured) smiles during an exhibition tennis match.
Tennis great Gabriela Sabatini (pictured) has asked Rafa Nadal if he wants to play mixed doubles during his exhibition event in Argentina. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) (Rich Schultz via Getty Images)

Nadal will also play the Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile during the exhibition tour with Ruud.

The Spaniard has remained coy on whether he will take part in any further ATP events this year, after his quarter-final exit at the US Open.

However, having qualified for the ATP Finals, many are expecting him to take part in the final competition.

Rafa Nadal reaches out to fans after baby news

Last week, Nadal reached out to the tennis world to thank everyone for the messages after he and his wife, Mery 'Xisca' Perello, welcomed the arrival of their first child.

Perello gave birth to a baby boy in a private clinic on Sunday, with both mother and child doing well.

Nadal has remained off social media since the birth of his first child, but sent out a message to let everyone know that the family is healthy and to thank everyone for the support.

"Hello everyone. After a few days and many messages of affection I just wanted to thank you all, he wrote, in Spanish.

"We are very happy and all very well. A big hug."

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