"It was very important to listen to Rafael Nadal" - ITF president defends Spaniard's farewell arrangements after immense backlash

Rafael Nadal bid goodbye to tennis amid a rousing sendoff from Spanish fans on November 19, 2024, in Malaga during the Davis Cup Finals. Spain failed to win a semifinal berth as the Dutch prevailed 2-1 in the last-eight battle. What followed after the Spanish side's exit overwhelmed everyone in attendance at the Martin Carpena Arena, as Nadal stood on the court as a player for the final time.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion recounted a million memories through a video clip about his storied career being played on the big screen. His rivals, including Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, paid their tributes to him as he watched on with tear-filled eyes. However, many criticized the arrangements for Nadal's farewell.

Addressing the immense backlash around the farewell, David Haggerty, president of ITF — the Davis Cup organizing body, defended the arrangements in a recent press interaction, claiming everything went as per Nadal's requirements.

"Rafa is an amazing player and has a legacy of tennis that he will leave behind, inspiring millions of players around the world to play tennis, to continue to play. We felt it was very important to listen to what Rafa wanted and how he wanted to be celebrated. That’s exactly what we did," Haggerty said.

The Spaniard's coach, Carlos Moya expressed unhappiness with how the farewell ceremony unfolded, suggesting that it didn't do justice to the retiring icon's stature:

"The feeling that we all have is a bit disheveled and shabby. It is true that it is a Tuesday night but this is sport and months in advance it was known that if Spain lost Rafa would retire. He is way above all this."

Moya wasn't the only one to complain; several fans also criticized what they felt was an 'underwhelming' farewell to the 38-year-old's glittering career.

In his final appearance, Rafael Nadal faced Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarterfinal tie between Spain and the Netherlands and lost 6-4, 6-4.

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"People can have whatever opinions... we delivered a ceremony that Rafael Nadal wanted" - ITF president

Rafael Nadal (Getty)

In the same interview with the press, ITF president David Haggerty claimed the organizing body did justice to Rafael Nadal with the sendoff at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

"We took his lead, and we delivered on that. People can have whatever opinions they want of whether it was right or not, but to me, the most important thing was we delivered a ceremony that was what Rafa wanted — and, being who he is, was a great evening, and it was much appreciated," Haggerty said.

Nadal's career notably began in 2001 and saw him help Spain to five Davis Cup crowns. He also earned two gold medals for his country at the Olympics.

The 38-year-old clinched the singles gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, defeating Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in the final. He doubled his tally by clinching the doubles gold alongside countryman Marc Lopez at the Rio Olympics in 2016.