Nadal, Djokovic and Medvedev child births sparks fan conspiracy theory

Tennis fans have forged a new meaning behind the Australian Open’s nickname as the ‘happy slam’ after star players Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Gael Monfils all became fathers for the first time this month. 

Former world number one Medvedev became the latest elite tennis star to announce he had welcomed his first child on Saturday, the same day Frenchman Monfils’s partner and fellow tennis professional Elina Svitolina gave birth to a baby girl. 

A week earlier, 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal’s wife Mery Perello gave birth to a baby boy in a private clinic. Nadal has since returned to practice after spending some time off with his newborn son, and confirmed his wife and child are ‘very well’ on social media. 

“Hello everyone,” Nadal posted on Twitter. “After a few days and many loving messages I just wanted to thank you all! We are very happy and everyone is very well! A big hug.” Supporters have been sending congratulatory messages to the new fathers, and the child births have even sparked a fan conspiracy theory in some corners of the internet. 

READ MORE: Nadal thanks tennis fans as Spaniard confirms wife and son both ‘well’

The October births correlate with the children possibly being conceived during the Australian Open, which kicks off the Grand Slam year mid-way through January. Djokovic also welcomed his first son in October 2014, after losing at the quarter-final stage during the tournament in Melbourne nine months earlier to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka.

The Australian Open had been nicknamed in tennis circles as the ‘happy slam’ for a number of years. Icon Roger Federer first coined the phrase, simply because the tournament has been adored by players in the past.

It is the first major tournament players enter after pre-season, allows players to explore the city of Melbourne, and the event is also known for the great relationship between the players and the crowd. But some fans now believe the ‘happy slam’ appropriately describes the place where tennis stars have been conceiving their children.

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“I need to know what’s going down at the Australian Open every year,” Bastien Fachan tweeted after noting the recent birth dates. “Happy slam’ for a reason,” one fan on Reddit wrote. “Seems like Melbourne has replaced Paris as the city of love,” another joked.

Meanwhile, Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni believes it will hard for his nephew to adjust as a new father when he jets off Down Under for the 2023 tournament. “I think he will do it completely normally, he is not a special guy,” Toni said of Nadal being a father while still playing.

“Djokovic, Federer have done it and footballers do it constantly. Obviously, at first, I imagine that when you have to go to Australia, it will be a bit hard to let go of the family, the son and the wife, but in the end it is the price you have to pay.”