Rafael Nadal‘s last day as a professional tennis player didn’t see Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in attendance, leaving David Ferrer, Spain’s Davis Cup Captain, feeling let down. Djokovic had once promised to be there for Nadal’s final match, calling him his greatest rival. Federer, on the other hand, wrote a heartfelt message to Nadal but never confirmed if he planned to attend.
Spain was expected to beat the Netherlands easily in the Davis Cup Finals. Fans might have thought it would be a perfect ending for Nadal with another victory. But things didn’t go as planned; Spain lost, and so did any chance of a fairy-tale finish for Rafa.
Nadal faced Botic van de Zandschulp in singles but lost 4-6, 4-6. Carlos Alcaraz kept hopes alive by winning against Tallon Griekspoor; however, Wesley Koolhof and van de Zandschulp ended Nadal’s career by defeating Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in doubles.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 38 | 215 | 7 - 5 |
Ferrer’s Decisions Under Scrutiny:
Some people questioned Ferrer’s choices after the loss. They thought Roberto Bautista Agut should have played singles while Nadal could have teamed up with either Alcaraz or Granollers for doubles. Afterward, Ferrer explained that picking players was tough.
In a video tribute during Nadal’s retirement ceremony, both Federer and Djokovic appeared on screen but weren’t physically present—something Ferrer found disappointing. “The farewell was done with the best of intentions,” he said but felt it lacked key figures like Pau Gasol.
Rumors suggested that Federer and Djokovic might have planned to attend if Spain had won against the Netherlands as expected. Ferrer expressed sadness over how events unfolded: “We were favorites but didn’t show it.” He wished important figures from Rafa’s career could have been there.
Despite this bittersweet end, Ferrer believes Rafa will receive many honors at future tournaments: “Rafa will have a lot of time where he will be honored… It was his last match; we won’t see him on court again.”
What do you think about how things turned out?
