The former world No. 3 shared his frustration that Nadal’s departure came amid a Davis Cup defeat to the Netherlands, despite Spain being favorites. However, Ferrer was rather discouraged by the setting and emphasized that “very important people were missing from his career.”
“I’m sad about everything, about the way it happened, about the lost match… it wasn’t the scenario we wanted. We were favorites but we didn’t show it,” admitted Ferrer . “And the farewell to someone as important as Rafa was diluted; very important people were missing in his career, and also people who were so important at the level of his rivals and his team. I missed those people.”
“Things are what they are and you have to accept them. Rafa will still have a lot of time to be honored at major tournaments and he will get the farewell he deserves. It was his last game; we will Not seeing him in the same place anymore, and I missed that.”
The former French Open runner-up pointed out notable absentees including Federer, Djokovic and Spanish NBA star Pau Gasol. “With the Davis Cup format everything has changed. It’s a Tuesday, people are coming home from work… I didn’t miss the support; if it had been more balanced there would have been that pressure,” added Ferrer added.
“The farewell was with the best of intentions, but it was after a defeat and in a hurry… it was a bit sad. I have Federer, Djokovic and [Pau] Gasol, who is a close friend of his, is missing,” he said. “I shouldn’t have spoken. Rafa’s greatness will not change with a better or worse honor.”
