Novak Djokovic has become the latest prominent figure in tennis to criticize the handling of Rafael Nadal's retirement ceremony. Nadal, one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, officially ended his career late last year, with his final match coming during the 2024 Davis Cup finals. However, the conclusion of his illustrious career was far from the fairytale send-off many had hoped for.
A disappointing end to Nadal’s career
Nadal’s final appearance as a professional tennis player took place during Spain's campaign in the 2024 Davis Cup. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, his team was eliminated in the quarter-finals, preventing any chance of a storybook ending. This early exit left Nadal’s retirement ceremony less impactful than many expected.
The rushed nature of the event and its lack of star-studded attendance drew heavy criticism. Some believed the ceremony didn’t truly honour Nadal’s immense contributions to tennis, and it was far from the celebration that his career warranted. Among the notable absentees was Novak Djokovic, who recently shared his thoughts on why he wasn’t present at the event.
Djokovic explains absence from retirement ceremony
Speaking at the Australian Open, Djokovic addressed the issue, explaining that he had initially planned to attend the ceremony if Spain made it to the semifinals. He said, “I don’t know the exact details as to how they envisioned the ceremony, but I know that the plan was to do it after the semis if Spain were to go through. Murray and I planned to be there, we couldn’t fit the quarter-finals in our schedule, but we were a sure thing for the semis.”
Despite the early exit, Djokovic expressed regret over not being there, stating, “Unfortunately, it turned out the way it did, what are you gonna do? More than that, I don’t really know.”
Djokovic’s mixed feelings on the ceremony
On the ceremony itself, Djokovic shared, “I saw the video of the ceremony . I don’t know, I don’t know if Rafa maybe didn’t want to make too much of a fuss about it in order not to bother other teams, matches… I don’t know, to be honest, but I feel bad that I wasn’t there.” Djokovic’s comments highlight his appreciation for Nadal's career and his disappointment with how the farewell unfolded.
While Nadal had the opportunity to say goodbye on home soil, the ceremony was met with disappointment from many, including former coach Carlos Moya. Moya, who worked with Nadal for seven years, expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “The feeling we are all left with is that the farewell was a bit scruffy and shabby. It’s true that it’s a Tuesday night, but this is sport, and we knew months in advance that if Spain lost, Rafa would retire. Nadal is far above all this.”
Nadal's career, which concluded with 22 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic Gold medals, deserved a more fitting tribute to his legacy, and many in the tennis world feel the retirement ceremony didn’t do justice to his remarkable achievements.