Nadal and a connection to Ananthpur | #226
+ Thalaivaa in a Hollywood film 🤯
India lost a gem - Ratan Naval Tata was a dog lover and a man who loves dogs is a good man. Tata was a business Titan, who motored along the journey of life. You could say he was in a privileged Cliq and had tremendous Capital along the way, but he made use of all of that, to collect a Big Basket of admirers. Political leaders asked for his Consultancy on key matters, and he had a Vistara of experience to share. Rest in Peace sir.
The tennis world also received a minor shock when Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from tennis. Beset with injuries in the last couple of years, it wasn’t really surprising that the great man decided to rest easy on his well-deserved laurels. It brought on a wave of tributes from everyone including his biggest rivals for the GOAT title - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, as to how Nadal made them better players.
This week we look at some interesting stories about Nadal.
Things we learnt this week 🤓
Rafael Nadal's impact extends far beyond tennis, reaching a remote town in southern India called Ananthpur. Through his foundation, Nadal has transformed the lives of underprivileged children by partnering with the Rural Development Trust (RDT) to create the Anantapur Educational Centre. This initiative provides education, computer training, and tennis coaching to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those from tribal communities. The project is part of a broader effort to break down social and economic barriers in the region. Children who once had limited access to opportunities now have a level playing field to showcase their skills. The initiative, coordinated by the Rafa Nadal Foundation and the Vicente Ferrer Foundation, aims to foster a culture of sports and learning that can uplift the community.
The benefits extend beyond tennis. The centre also provides training in English and computer operations, essential skills in a town where access to technology was once scarce. The initiative has empowered local women as well, offering them jobs making handicrafts from local materials, helping them achieve financial independence.
Nadal’s connection to Ananthpur has created an oasis of hope in an area where poverty and limited opportunities were once the norm. Thanks to his foundation, thousands of children now have a chance to break free from their circumstances and build better futures. This project is not just about sport; it’s about dignity, empowerment, and creating lasting change in a community that needed it most.
Back in 2010, something rather unexpected happened - It was Shakira and Rafael Nadal starring together in the music video for her hit single, Gypsy. Rafa, the man who normally spends his time pounding the baseline on clay courts, was seen pounding well... he traded his racket for a bit of romance and whimsy on screen. Shakira needed a leading man for her music video, and who better than Rafael Nadal, not just a champion but a man whose every move seems to embody that free-spirited, nomadic life Shakira’s Gypsy is all about. The video sees the two locked in playful, intimate moments, as they dance around each other in a way that feels... well, less like tennis and more like tango. Naturally, the rumors flew thick and fast - can we see them together in mixed doubles? But it was strictly professional. Shakira brushed off the gossip, explaining that Nadal was chosen because he represented the essence of a modern-day gypsy—always moving, always striving, with a passion for life that mirrored her own. We’re used to seeing Nadal in intense, sweaty five-setters, his face a picture of determination, so watching him relax and have a bit of fun was a revelation. The chemistry was undeniable, but in the end, this was just two global icons coming together to create a bit of magic. This was a case where we were hoping that the score was Love-All. Watch the video here.
In the early years, Rafael Nadal was known to celebrate his French Open wins by falling on the ground and embracing the clay on which he was an absolute beast. He didn’t do it in 2008 though - He beat Roger Federer in one of the most one-sided matches in their epic rivalry. 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. Federer termed it one of the worst losses in his career. Nadal simply acknowledged his greatness and walked to the net and shook hands. But a month later, in what is considered among the greatest tennis matches of all time - Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in an epic 5 setter in near darkness as the match ended at 9PM. This time, he fell on the ground and embraced the grass - that many thought was beyond him.
A difference a month makes!
From IWTK, with love 💌
In which TV show, was the New York skyline just a large curtain? Find out the answer here.
“You have been on the wrong side of the law? The law has been on the wrong side of me.” Such a dialogue can only be given by our Thalaivaa. Check out his appearance in a Hollywood film.
Only In India 🇮🇳
Welcome to the Golden Age of working from home? A ‘virtual’ receptionist checking in folks visiting a Bengaluru Hotel.
❤️ IWTK