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
#SaripodhaaSanivaaram is a good commercial cinema. Screenplay, small links, energetic BGM,
@iam_SJSuryah sir performance and to see one and only
@NameisNani anna in commercial avatar is icing on the cake. You will be entertained throughout.
Here is my #TheBirthdayBoy review:
"The Birthday Boy is an independent film that comes with both positive and negative aspects. But, it’s a kind of film that's worth watching (especially for young audiences) for its unique content.,"
https://t.co/w44EQKmaLA
Our very own Dil Raju garu, met with the cast and crew of #TheBirthdayBoy to congratulate them on creating a promising film.
He extended his support to the young team, aiming to help their genuine effort reach more theatres and captivate the hearts of many more audiences.
May Telugu cinema, in all its scales and forms, continue to flourish and push the envelope 💯
Any producers, distributors and exhibitors on my timeline… #TheBirthdayBoy is getting good reviews from critics and audiences. Can anyone help the team get more shows in theatres?
Heard this film has something to do with the birthday bumps ritual. We had a brutal ritual in our campus in my student days. Bumps used to be given with thick boots. Luckily nothing untoward ever happened. But it would always be one misdirected kick away from disaster. Read a story in a newspaper many years back about a boy who was paralysed for life because of permanent spinal injuries suffered during bumps. Glad someone’s made a film about it.
Wonderful to see this indie film getting good reviews. Wishing the team super luck 👍🏽👍🏽♥️♥️
#TheBirthdayBoyInTheatres
Sometimes, films made by independent production houses and new directors are refreshing because they don’t follow the pattern followed by commercial cinema director. There are no songs in the film. No forced entertainment. There is no compulsion for them to cater to all diverse sets of audiences.
They stuck to the subject and conflict point.
However, #TheBirthdayBoy is not getting reasonable screens in Hyderabad. Ticket is priced at ₹112. Giving more screens would be helpful in catering to interested movie lovers.
#TheBirthdayBoy
Here is a quote by Mark Twain - “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.”
80% of the film happens in an apartment where a death happens. It’s a thriller drama that revolves around a death.
What makes this film more powerful is that it’s based on a real story. The photo of the victim is also shown to us in the end credits. There 7-8 people involved in the entire incident. And each person knows a part of the information, but not complete information. Only a couple of guys know the entire information.
It’s a proper independent film that’s shot with honesty and is engaging most of the time.
Worth giving a try to know about a ghastly incident and reasons behind it! 👍
#IdlebrainGiveaway alert!
I have 28 tickets of #TheBirthdayBoy for 10:50 PM show at PVR, Inorbit tonight (20 July), if you want them in your inbox, pls reply +repost this post.
Winners will be selected randomly!