Ferrer, about Nadal: "Winning or losing was not going to change his career or what we think of him"

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 21 Nov 2024 | 10.42

David Ferrer talks about the farewell of Rafa Nadal as a professional tennis player. Photo: Getty

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Between endless criticisms and debates, David Ferrer appears to clarify some issues that have been causing controversy since Tuesday, November 19, at 16:00 in the afternoon. The captain of Spain's 2024 Davis Cup team explains clearly why he chose certain players for the tie, why he did not consider Rafa Nadal for doubles, and also shares how he experienced the farewell on the court with the Balearic player.

A Lackluster Farewell

"I am saddened by it all, by how it went, by losing the tie. It was not the scenario we wanted. We were the favorites, but we didn't show it. The farewell of someone as important as Rafa felt lackluster. Perhaps very important figures in his tennis career and people who have been crucial both as rivals and in the team were missing, and perhaps they were scarcely mentioned. I missed seeing his entourage being highlighted. Things are as they are, and we have to accept them. Rafa will have plenty of time for certain tributes in major tournaments, as I imagine it will be at Grand Slams. Professionally, it was his last match, and that aspect was indeed missing," David commented in an interview on El Partidazo de COPE.

The Decision to Put Rafa Nadal

"I chose Rafa because I was certain that between Rafa and Roberto, seeing how they were training and how Rafa was improving day by day, playing matches that were very evenly matched, I had confidence that Rafa would bring out that competitive beast that he has always been. It was a question mark because it had been a long time since he had competed, but if I had to give that opportunity to someone, it had to be Rafa. I was aware that for doubles, we could count on Carlos and Marcel, who had played together before. Doubles require a lot of attention and match rhythm, and Rafa had not been playing matches. It had been a long time since the Olympics since he had played in doubles. In that aspect, I was very clear about the order of the players."

The Match Chronicle from the Sidelines

"When he lost the first set, he was worried because he couldn't find his rhythm. He looked for solutions to play a bit farther back and engage in more exchanges. At that point, I felt that wasn't the tactic on such a fast court, but he was trying to find solutions. In the second set, there was a double break, and rather than talking tactically, I spoke to him to tell him it was time to enjoy. Winning or losing... You have to let loose, play bravely, as if it were the first match of your career in Manacor. I saw him concerned, and I wanted to convey that everything was fine, that it didn't matter, winning or losing wouldn't change his career or what we think of him. I knew he was going to suffer because in the end, there's pressure, playing for your country, and in tennis, you always have pressure."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ferrer, sobre Nadal: "Ganar o perder no iba a cambiar su carrera ni lo que pensamos de él"