Vamos, @RafaelNadal!
As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.
Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.
I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.
And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.
OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.
We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.
I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.
I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.
And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.
Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.
Rafa that!
Best always, your fan,
Roger
los tímidos por lo general suelen pensarse dos y más veces lo que van a decir antes de soltar subnormalidades como esta, así que, dios bendiga a los tímidos que ayudan a mantener el equilibrio en esta absurda y pesada sociedad repleta de bocazas, catetos y paletazos que no callan
Q te impresione más una imagen de Letizia con un poco de barro en la cara que las imágenes de miles de voluntarios limpiando las calles desde hace 5 días o de la gente que lo ha perdido TODO, dice mucho de una persona
Lo que estamos viviendo los vecinos de Paiporta no tiene palabras. Ahora cae la noche, y comienzan los robos, saqueos, entran en casas, roban agua, los vecinos gritando policía! persecuciones constantes...
Es un maldito horror. No os llega nada de la realidad por la TV.
#Dana
Vamos a lanzar un mensaje muy claro y lo vamos a dejar fijado. La emergencia meteorológica no ha finalizado. La dana sigue sobre España. Se están produciendo tormentas muy intensas, ayer en Andalucía, hoy en Castellón. Vamos a seguir así gran parte de la semana.
Las portadas de hoy. Solo El País lleva las inundaciones en Valencia. Todos los demás consideran que hablar de Begoña Gómez es más importante. Vaya papelón de la prensa conservadora.
DIFUNDID POR FAVOR.
Necesitamos ayuda, llamad dónde podáis. Mi hermano, mi madre y yo estamos atrapados en casa x la riada. Vivimos en Horno de Alcedo, Valencia. Un bajo. Todo el primer piso está inundado. Más de 2 metros de agua. A nada de subir al tejado. Hemos perdido todo.
Demà els empresaris faran càlculs de pèrdues econòmiques mentres la classe treballadora haurà de plorar als seus morts en una catàstrofe més que previsible on s'han posat per davant els interessos econòmics a la pròpia vida humana. No ho oblidem mai
En tan solo una hora y media, las 50 personas más ricas del planeta generan más emisiones de CO2 que un ciudadano medio en toda su vida https://t.co/n582VQR9iq
Los estudiantes de la Universitat de València fueron los primeros en acampar en solidaridad con el pueblo de Palestina. Hoy son los primeros en acampar por el derecho a una vivienda digna: "Si no tenim casa, ocuparem la plaça". Enormes.
I debated whether to share this. I did apologize on the air. But I invite you to read my introspection on @BulletinAtomic of how extreme weather 📈 driven by global warming has changed me. Frankly, YOU should be shaken too, and demand #ClimateActionNow. https://t.co/09vxgabSmX
Me dejo 250€ en ropa y me cobran 15 céntimos por la bolsa de papel. Porque si no pago la bolsa tengo que ir con las camisas, pantalones y gallumbos en la mano.
Esto y lo de los tapones son los logros de la UE.
Muy a favor. Los no fumadores (que somos la mayoría), tenemos derecho a los espacios LIMPIOS incluso al aire libre. En algunos países solo se puede fumar en puntos habilitados (ni en terrazas, ni en parques, ni mucho menos caminando por la calle), y así es como debería ser.