Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic absences lamented as Rafael Nadal Davis Cup farewell branded 'shabby' and 'sad'
Updated 22/11/2024 at 17:14 GMT
Rafael Nadal said goodbye to professional tennis in Malaga this week amid emotional scenes for the player and his legion of fans. However, Spain's Davis Cup captain David Ferrer said he was "a bit sad" at how Nadal's farewell had turned out, citing the absence of "important people" such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Pau Gasol from the event. Carlos Moya, Nadal's coach, was also unhappy.
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Rafael Nadal's farewell to tennis this week in Malaga was missing "important people", said Spain's Davis Cup captain David Ferrer, as he admitted the way it happened left him "sad".
Nadal and his compatriots - including Carlos Alcaraz - had been widely expected to get past the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, but instead succumbed to a defeat that saw them exit the tournament, and officially send Nadal into retirement.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion took on Botic van de Zandschulp in the first singles rubber, but lost in straight sets, and though Alcaraz took it to a doubles decider, it was the Dutch who prevailed, dashing the best-laid plans of a Friday farewell that was set to include all the bells and whistles, and when Spain would have been in semi-final action.
"I’m sad about everything, about how it happened, about losing the tie… it wasn’t the scenario we wanted," Ferrer told El Partidazo de Cope. "We were favourites, but we didn’t show it.
"And the farewell to someone as important as Rafa was watered down. Very important people in his career were missing, as well as people who have been so important as rivals and those in his team. I missed those people.
"Things are what they are, and you have to accept them. Rafa will have a lot of time where he will be honoured in big tournaments and he will have the farewell he deserves.
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"It was his last match, we won’t see him on a court again, and I missed that."
Among those missing in Malaga for Nadal's send-off were Federer - who was joined by Nadal for his own retirement event at the 2022 Laver Cup - and Djokovic.
Per Tennis365, tournament director Feliciano Lopez also confirmed that Andy Murray's intention had been to be present, before Spain's shock, early loss meant a hasty tribute to Nadal, with the aforementioned trio sending video messages to their long-time rival instead.
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"Everything has changed with the Davis Cup format. It was a Tuesday, people were coming from work," Ferrer added.
"The farewell was done with the best of intentions, it was after losing and in a hurry… it was a bit sad. I missed Federer, Djokovic, [Pau] Gasol, who is a close friend of his.
"I shouldn’t have spoken. Rafa’s greatness is not going to change with a better or worse tribute."
Moya calls Nadal farewell 'shabby'
Ferrer wasn't the only one to critique the goodbye ceremony, with Nadal's coach Carlos Moya wading in with his thoughts.
Speaking to Onda Cero, Moya said: "The feeling we are all left with is that the farewell was a bit scruffy and shabby.
"It's true that it was on a Tuesday night, but this is sport and we knew months in advance that if Spain lost, Rafa would retire.
"Nadal is far above all this."
In a separate interview with El Partidazo del COPE - per MARCA - Moya also revealed that he would not - as it stands - be taking up a coaching role with another player.
"It's been eight years," he said. "In the end you feel a bit tired and empty.
"It wouldn't be honest to start with someone now, I don't have the energy."
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