Rafael Nadal has been in throes of family tragedy right after his performance at the US Open 2015. Good thing that his girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello is right by his side through all of this.

According to AP, “Mallorca's regional government says the grandfather of Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has died. He was 85.”

Looks like Rafael Nadal won’t have much time to mourn the lack of his own performance at the US Open this year, in the light of this tragedy.

But seeing how his girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello has been his active supporter for years, it’s no surprise that she is sticking with Rafa through the thick and thin.

Rafael Nadal definitely felt the heat after dropping out of French Open this year, but the former champion has his hopes high for the US Open 2015.

According to CNN, if Rafa fails at the US Open again,“it would mark the first time since 2004 he hasn't claimed at least one major in a calendar year.”

To add to the pressure, the former US Open winner Andy Roddick commented to BBC that Rafael Nadal "probably won't win another slam" in his career.

Ouch. That gotta hurt.

Rafael Nadal has been staying strong despite his recent flailings, possibly for the sake of his girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello. His Twitter posts are filled with his usual humor and lightheartedness.

The former world number 1 once said, "I feel good, there are no problems.”

Rafael Nadal has been strongly insisting that “life has been fantastic” and immediately got all his fans wondering if that was in reference to his girlfriend Maria francisca Perello.

According to the Guardian, the former world number 1 said, “Today I am not as good as I was. I don’t know if tomorrow I am going to be as good as I was. Life has been fantastic for me – and it still is.”

Condolences to the Nadal family as they go through these hard times.