Rafa's Perfect Match

The king of clay tied the knot with his pretty-as-a-princess bride in a lavish Mediterranean ceremony

- Nici De Wet

IT WAS truly a day befitting tennis royalty – a majestic castle, a menu created by a Michelin-starred chef and a guest list that included a former king of Spain.

Tennis ace Rafael Nadal’s wedding to Maria Francisca Perelló (31), also referred to as Mery or Xisca, was a lavish, no-expense-spared ceremony that saw family, friends and sports stars gathering on Spain’s most expensive property.

Against a backdrop of the blazing blue Mediterranean Sea, the lovebirds made their 14-year romance official inside the grounds of La Fortaleza, a magnificent centuries-old stone fortress on the Spanish island of Majorca.

A highly sought-after wedding destination, the property is owned by Lord James Lupton, a British multimillionaire who bought it in 2011 for a staggering £30 million (then about R360 million).

Welsh footballer Gareth Bale (30) also married his childhood sweetheart, Emma Rhys-Jones (28), there in June.

Rafa and Xisca are a notoriously private pair. They got engaged last year but only announced their betrothal in January. They kept their wedding day shrouded in secrecy too – although the couple can be seen in their wedding attire in two official photos that were released.

True to his heartthrob status, the king of clay looked suave in a grey suit and white shirt while Xisca wore a gown made by Spanish bridal designer Rosa Clará, which featured a jewelled neckline and French lace.

The one-time insurance worker and business graduate left her tresses down and held a bouquet of white flowers.

According to local media outlet Mundo Deportivo, guests included retired tennis players Carlos Moyá and David Ferrer, basketball star Pau Gasol and former Spanish King Juan Carlos I. All were asked to leave their phones in lockers provided and notes were placed on seats reminding everyone photos were banned.