The huge secret Rafael Nadal was keeping during Australian Open

Rafa Nadal and Xisca Perello have been keeping a very big secret.

In news that will break hearts around the world, Nadal is reportedly engaged to his long-time partner of 14 years.

According to Hello! Magazine, Nadal popped the question back in May, but they’ve been keeping it a secret.

They are said to be tying the knot this autumn in Mallorca.

Nadal, 32, has previously spoken of his desire to settle down and start a family with her.

“Obviously, I have the intention of forming a family. I love children and I would like my children to do what they like,” he said.

Xisca, 30, who works at Nadal’s foundation, was in Australia last week watching her fiance at the Australian Open.

However she’s previously spoken about why she doesn’t always feel the need to be with him at every event.

“He needs his space when he is competing and just the idea of me hanging around and waiting on his needs all day tires me out,” she said.

“It would asphyxiate me. And then he would have to be worrying about me.

“If I followed him everywhere I think there’s a risk we might stop getting along.”

The wonderful news will help soften Nadal’s pain after he was thrashed by Novak Djokovic in the most one-sided men’s final at Melbourne Park in 16 years.

‘She doesn’t need wildcards anymore’

Nadal caused a stir back in 2017 when he was famously said Xisca had finally earned a ‘wildcard’ to come with him to Australia.

“After 10 years finally, my girlfriend gets a wildcard to come here,” he said in an on-court interview, sparking a hilarious reaction.

But he made amends during the opening week of the 2019 Australian Open.

“As I say to you a couple of years ago, in 2017, it was the first time she was able to be here. She received the wildcard in that moment,” he said.

“Now after 14 years together she doesn’t need wildcards at all. She’s coming wherever she wants. That’s how it works.”