While ardently following his on-court duties, Rafael Nadal has amassed 22 Grand Slam singles titles while also having a former No. 1 ranking. However, when he is off the court, the Spanish tennis star diligently takes up his family duties, as his brotherly side has been brought to light by his younger sister, María Isabel Nadal.

Even though he travels all across the globe for various tournaments, the ‘King of Clay’ never forgets to check in regularly with his sister. While talking about their sibling relationship in an endearing confession, Isabel recently opened up about the ATP player’s ‘unusual and overprotective’ big brother side.

“It would freak him out”- María Isabel on how her brother, Rafael Nadal, can be overprotective

In his book ‘Rafa: My Story,’ the 35-year-old talked about her adorable sibling relationship with her big brother, whose busy tennis schedule doesn’t keep him from contacting Isabel regularly. María Isabel Nadal, who is five years younger than her tennis star brother, said, “An unusual and overprotective big brother, who calls her or texts ten times a day, wherever in the world he might be, he gets into a terrible flap, she says, at the slightest suggestion that she might be falling ill.”

Isabel also disclosed how Nadal once ‘freaked out’ when she forgot to inform him about her regular health checkups with her doctor. She said, “One time when he was away in Australia, my doctor ordered me to have some tests done—nothing too serious—but in all the messages I exchanged with Rafael, that was the one thing I didn’t mention. It would freak him out; it would risk throwing him completely off his game.

Aside from this, Isabel also brought to light the 22-time singles Grand Slam champion’s ‘soft and vulnerable’ side beneath his hard warrior and tenacious personality on the court. Nadal’s sister said, “All those close to Nadal shared Sebastián’s suffering that day; all saw the soft, vulnerable core hidden beneath the hard warrior shell.” She also revealed how her brother is “a bit of a scaredy cat.”

Rafa may be the intimidating sort on the court, causing even the likes of Federer and Djokovic to sweat, but off the court is a different story. Who doesn’t hold a soft spot for their family after all?

What do you think of the Spanish tennis legend’s ‘unusual and overprotective’ big brother side? Let us know in the comments section.