"She had to resist the urge at times to get up and leave" - When Rafael Nadal talked about his wife's reactions during his historic US Open 2010 win

In his 2012 book "Rafa: My Story," tennis ace Rafael Nadal talked about his wife Maria Francisca Perello's reaction to his historic win against Novak Djokovic at the 2010 US Open.

Nadal defeated Djokovic in 2010 to win the US Open for the first time and join a select group of players to have completed the Career Slam. In a match that featured superb shotmaking by both players, the Spaniard defeated the Serb 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Writing in his famed autobiographical book, Nadal revealed that his family was present during the final game in his box and that his wife, who was then his girlfriend, appeared quite nervous.

"I shot a glance at my team and family, who were all sitting together in a clump to my left. Toni, Carlos, Titín, my father, and Tuts, and behind them my mother, my sister Maribel, and María Francisca, who looked especially nervous," Nadal wrote.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner added that Maria frequently left the room or switched channels at critical moments while watching his matches at home. However, she had to fight her inclinations to get up and leave when she was at the stadium.

"This was only the second time she’d come to watch me play a Grand Slam final (USO 2010)," Nadal wrote. "Usually, she watches at home, alone, as she did during Wimbledon in 2008, or with her parents. If it all gets too much for her, she’s confessed to me, she changes channels for a while or leaves the room. This time, in New York, she said she had to resist the urge at times to get up and leave. Right now was the moment in the match where her resolve was most tested."

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"I stayed there, face down, sobbing, my body shaking" - Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal pictured at the 2010 US Open.

Rafael Nadal also described how his mother and sisters joyfully applauded, his father yelled "Vamos," and his wife Maria Francisca put her hands on her head in astonishment just before he successfully won match point to clinch the title.

"My father clenched their fists, screaming “Vamos!” Tuts, my mother, and my sister applauded, laughing with joy. María Francisca had her hands on her head, as if not believing what seemed to be about to happen. Match point. Championship point. Everything point. I glanced up at my team, as if imploring them to give me courage, seeking from them some measure of calm," the Spaniard revealed.

The 36-year-old went on to say that he served while fighting back tears and that shortly after, he fell to the ground, sobbing and shaking.

"Fighting back tears again, I served. Wide to the backhand, as instructed. The rally lasted six shots. On the sixth he hit the ball wide, well wide, and out. My legs buckled and I fell to the ground before the ball had even landed, and I stayed there, facedown, sobbing, my body shaking," he said.