Dhanush Says He Regrets Judging Tennis Legend Rafael Nadal Whenever He Lost After Watching Netflix Documentary

. The actor also got candid about judging Rafael whenever he lost a match, but said he understood his struggles better after watching the doc.

He added that Rafael’s routine and rituals of ‘perfectly placed water bottles, clearing the lines, adjusting your hair, pulling at your shorts’ were never superstitions but a ‘battle against anxiety, stress’ and a body that was wearing him down. “You were fighting your own demons long before you stepped onto the court to fight anyone else,” wrote the actor. He also added, “With countless injuries and a chronic foot condition, you still managed to climb the toughest of mountains. To imagine what you could have achieved without that foot condition is almost impossible. Still, still 24-22 grand slams is a very thin margin .. VERY THIN.”

Dhanush says it sends a shiver down his spine to imagine what if two of his four Grand Slams were played on clay instead of hard courts? “With all due respect, I know the stats are with Djokovic. I know many believe the game belongs to Federer. But for me, my Phoenix, you are and will always be the GOAT,” he wrote, adding, “Thank you, Rafa, for sacrificing your body and soul for the sport of tennis, and for inspiring millions around the world with your resilience, humility, and fighting spirit. Forever a fan.”

Rafa, a documentary series on Rafael Nadal’s tennis career, details the physical and emotional toll of his final years on court. It is directed by Oscar-nominee Zach Heinzerling. It follows the player through a physically demanding 2024 season, after which he retired. The four-part series was released on May 29.

Last seen in Tere Ishk Mein in Hindi and Kara in Tamil, Dhanush has a yet-to-be-titled film with Rajkumar Periasamy. It stars Mammootty, Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela, and Indrans.

Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.Read More