Rafael Nadal‘s farewell at the Davis Cup Finals left many feeling let down. Millions tuned in to see his last match, hoping for a memorable send-off, but it didn’t go as planned.
Spain was expected to win against the Netherlands, but things took a turn. Nadal lost to Botic van de Zandschulp, then Carlos Alcaraz managed to tie the score by defeating Tallon Griekspoor. Sadly, Spain couldn’t hold on as van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof beat Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in doubles.
Nadal’s goodbye ceremony followed his final match . He spoke to the crowd and watched a video of tributes from fellow athletes like Andres Iniesta. It was emotional yet some thought it lacked impact.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 38 | 215 | 7 - 5 |
Mixed Reactions:
Despite tears from fans in the stadium, key people in Nadal’s life found the ceremony lacking. Carlos Moya called it “shabby,” while Toni Nadal said it wasn’t what he expected. David Ferrer wished Djokovic and Federer had been there.
David Haggerty from the International Tennis Federation defended the event, saying it matched what Nadal wanted. However, others like Alex Corretja felt something grander would have been more suitable for such a legend.
Fans might think that such an iconic player deserved a more epic farewell moment.
Corretja shared with Eurosport that everyone felt an absence of emotion during this supposedly significant occasion. The loss just before made everything feel cold and unprepared; even though stars appeared in tribute videos, something was missing on court.
He noted that plans were possibly set for Friday instead of considering unexpected losses—like Spain’s defeat by the Netherlands—which added to this anticlimactic end for Rafael’s career.
What do you think? Should they have done more for Rafa?
