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
Grande émotion ce matin. La France va devenir le premier pays à inscrire l’IVG dans sa constitution et rendre irréversible le droit à l'avortement. Je pense à toutes les femmes qui ont porté ce combat il y a plus de 50 ans. Elles seraient si fières aujourd’hui.
#IVGConstitution
Nous sommes la première destination touristique du monde, notre gastronomie est reconnue comme telle parce que nous avons la meilleure agriculture du monde!
Si la gastronomie est une équipe, l’Agriculture en est la capitaine! #SoutienAuxAgriculteurs
Si la honte d'avoir eu une mère délinquante et maltraitante m’empêchait de répondre à tous ceux qui, comme @Cyrilhanouna et sa meute me rendent responsable de ses crimes, aujourd'hui c'est fini, je n'ai plus honte. https://t.co/cJsDd7O0RX @franceinter
Si les candidats à l’élection présidentielle pouvaient lire ce papier et avoir un avis et des solutions pour les vrais problèmes des gens, la Nation se porterait sans doute mieux. Et l’extrême-droite moins bien.
« Je fais la vaisselle à l’eau froide » : face aux hausses de prix, les plus modestes adaptent leurs modes de vie https://t.co/IvQuRYHFvN via @lemondefr
« En ramenant l’homme à sa seule religion, on efface ce que l’humanité a en commun. Là, le pire devient possible ». Tribune de F. Salat-Baroux sur le cas Zemmour et l’impérieuse nécessité de refaire Nation en s’adressant vraiment au peuple de France https://t.co/hS23nItxy7
Ici, en Hauts-de-France, le FN a reculé parce que nous avons montré que par le travail, l’engagement et la cohérence, la politique n’était pas morte, qu’elle avait encore un sens : celui de servir pour rendre la vie moins difficile, pour rendre la vie meilleure.
Avec détermination et engagement je rejoins la liste de @xavier_bertrand. J’ai la conviction que nos entreprises et leurs salariés sont des clefs d’un développement équilibré & durable pour notre région. Nous allons continuer à les accompagner. @sebattrepourvs #region_HdF
Parfait exemple du problème de fond que traverse l’agriculture 🇫🇷 (et de la malhonnêteté intellectuelle de Corinne 💶💳Lepage) ▶️ On adooore les petits paysans qui font du bio et respectent l’environnement eux... mais pas chez nous les citadins en weekend! https://t.co/Cu7YZBKpCW
Soutien aux commerçants et commerçantes du 20e arrondissement de #Paris, dont les vitrines et devantures ont été vandalisées. Ces inscriptions sont inacceptables ! Le véganisme peut s’exprimer sans agresser ni empêcher des commerces parfaitement légaux de fonctionner normalement.