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
Llevo toda la vida viendo al señor Rafael Nadal Parera y hasta cuando está a un paso de retirarse consigue emocionarme. El mejor deportista español de la historia. Nadie conseguirá igualarle. Respeto y honor infinito. A por la medalla de dobles 🥇
Cuando era pequeño, Jannik vio en el esquí un deporte que le interesaba y que quería practicar. Le venía en la familia. Sus padres trabajaban en un restaurante en un pueblo cerca de Los Alpes, y de ahí nació su relación con la nieve.
Lo practicó y llegó incluso a tener futuro, puesto que no tardó en lograr éxitos en su país, siendo campeón nacional de Italia. Es ahí donde entraron sus padres, los mismos a los que recordó en su discurso de campeón.
Sinner también había mostrado interés por el tenis y a sus 12 años debía tomar una decisión. Si quería ser tenista, su vida debía tomar otro camino, lejos de Los Alpes. Sus padres le dieron toda la libertad de que eligiera lo que más le gustara. Tras pensárselo, Jannik eligió el tenis. Quizá, el camino más duro.
Porque con 13 años, se tuvo que ir de casa de sus padres para viajar hasta la Riccardo Piatti Tennis Center, academia situada en la Bordighera, a 644 kilómetros de su casa. El resto es historia.
No me deja de asombrar lo que puede cambiar una vida con un sí o un no.
-Djokovic: "Tío, nunca te rindes. Me encanta, pero a veces podías jugar puntos más cortos"
-Alcaraz: "Los españoles nunca mueren"
-Djokovic: "Esto me suena de haberlo vivido ya..."
Creéis que lo que dice Shakira va por Piqué??? no sé creo que igual es afirmar algo cuando no está claro del todo. Yo personalmente esperaré a tenerlo más claro prefiero no arriesgarme.
Estás en Primera. Tu actual club te quiere renovar. El equipo de tu ciudad está en la mayor miseria deportiva de su historia, fuera del fútbol profesional desde 2020, y a ti sólo se te ocurre pagar de tu bolsillo para ir a jugar a 2B.
Este club le trastorna la cabeza al Socio.
‼️Exclusiva de Radio Marca Cádiz
👉🏻 Lucas Pérez ha salido del Cádiz CF por 1.000.000 de euros.
👉🏻493.000 los ha pagado Lucas de su propio bolsillo y 507.000 los pagará el conjunto gallego.
👉🏻 El Cádiz también se ahorrará 900.000 de su sueldo.
Increíble lección de valores.
La rivalidad más icónica del deporte, Federer y Nadal, dos décadas de amistad y del mayor nivel de tenis que podríamos imaginar.
Juntos hasta el final FEDAL 😭👑