Immy Hailstone

[BBC Newsnight @BBCNewsnight]

"Thank you and I guess all I can do is this..."

Rory Stewart gives his first response to his viral Newsnight moment.

#Newsnight

[Rory Stewart @RoryStewartUK]

1/ Trump has been conned by Putin. Russia isn’t a global superpower—its GDP (~$2 trillion) is smaller than Italy’s and about 1/15 the size of the US. 🧵

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

@RAC_Care Thanks Ellie, I’ve DM’d

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

@RAC_Care Hi, my car is at home & didn’t start this morning, so I had to take another car out instead and am now not at home but keen to get this sorted ASAP. Can I still request someone to come out if my dad is at home to speak to the patrol? Thanks

[Roger Federer @rogerfederer]

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

[Susie Dent @susie_dent]

Word of the day is ‘recrudescence’ (17th century): the return of something terrible after a time of reprieve.

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

Hey @giffgaff I’ve not had data connection in over 13 hours. I’ve reset my phone, can you help?

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

😂😂

[Scott Bryan @scottygb]

prepare for the longest nautical metaphor you’ll hear today

[Lewis Goodall @lewis_goodall]

Last minute comeback you say

[ALASTAIR CAMPBELL @campbellclaret]

Navalny dead. I’d like to say it was a shock but in truth it was probably only a matter of time. Now watch the Putin lie machine swing into action, helped by their professional propagandists at home and useful idiots around the world.

[Scott Bryan @scottygb]

It has been quite the year, so as a distraction from all that here are my WTF TV news moments from 2023 ✨

[Scott Bryan @scottygb]

BBC Breakfast showed a pigeon hitting a man’s head and Naga Munchetty lost it. It’s absolutely delightful.

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

Oooft

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 | NEW: Flitwick Town Council has written to Nadine Dorries to tell her to RESIGN as an MP as she promised

“You have not held a surgery in Flitwick since March 2020 […] your focus is on political manoeuvres to embarrass the Government for not appointing you to the HOL”

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

I unlocked £30 Rush tickets for Mrs. Doubtfire on @TodayTixUK! https://t.co/zRhKpNvAXh

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

Selling 2 x #abbavoyage tickets for this evening, £80 each. DM if interested!

[PubAffairs @PubAffairs]

News: congratulations as @Whitehouse_PA celebrates 25 years of effective #advocacy --> read all about it on the #PublicAffairs news page: https://t.co/G2U9kihTfe

[Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 @Haggis_UK]

Wes Streeting on 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥on #C4News

[Immy Hailstone @_immyrose]

@GWRHelp are you still advising not to travel today between paddington and Bristol due to train cancellations?

[Greta Thunberg @GretaThunberg]

yes, please do enlighten me. email me at [email protected]