Vamos, @RafaelNadal!
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As you get ready to graduate from tennis, Iโve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.
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Letโs start with the obvious: you beat meโa 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 gameโeven going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.
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Iโm 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 uniqueโit was so you.
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And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.ย
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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 wasโuntil 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 Iโd been hearing about youโabout this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major somedayโit wasnโt just hype.
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We were both at the start of our journey and itโs one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run youโve had. Including 14 French Opensโhistoric! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.
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I keep thinking about the memories weโve 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.
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Iโm 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 didnโt 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 muchโlike thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.
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And then there was Londonโthe Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my sideโnot 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.
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Rafa, I know youโre focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when itโs 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.
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Rafa that!
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Best always, your fan, โจ
Roger
Selling 4x tickets for Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall next Saturday at First Direct Arena in Leeds๐ฅ
Face Value๐ท
Block 103, Row B. closest seats to the ring you will find in the lower tier๐๏ธ
DM if interested๐
#boxing#joshtaylor#jackcatterall#taylorcatterall#matchroom
๐๏ธ Antony's ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin: โHe attacked me, shoved me against the door (of the car). There, I said to myself: 'It's over'.
Cavallin alleges that Antony then threatened that she, himself, and their son would "die" if she ended their relationship.
โHe broke my suitcase, took my handbag, my passport. He broke my mobile phone, he wouldn't let me go. I was a prisoner from 10pm to almost 3.30am. I call it private captivity. I just wanted to get out of there and he told me that I wouldn't leave until I erased everything. I think his mother called his physiotherapist and asked for help. No one could control it.โ
โ๏ธ @UOLEsporte