Nadal’s farewell was emotional and cold due to Spain’s defeat against the Netherlands. Also due to not having the embrace of Federer and Djokovic and the empty seats at the Martín Carpena.
The most beautiful image that remains from Rafa Nadal’s last match as a professional tennis player is his tears during the national anthem. The rest could be improved . From the selection of participants for the singles and doubles matches against the Netherlands to the coldness in the stands at the Martín Carpena and a tribute in which neither Roger Federer nor Novak Djokovic were present in person .
Friends are there for the most important moments and in Malaga the Swiss and the Serbian were missed. They did not attend . They did not have in their plans that Rafa Nadal could say goodbye against the Netherlands. Federer resolved it with a letter on his social networks that he published before Rafa’s match against Botic . It was not the most opportune moment to do it before playing and it took the spotlight. Protocol.
Rafa was there a couple of years ago when the Swiss retired in London . He played doubles with Federer at the Laver Cup and the image of two teammates, rivals on the courts and friends crying from the emotion of a final went down in history. Rafa Nadal was left alone by Federer , despite publishing a letter in which he praised even the Balearic superstitions. “The day you entered Miami with your red sleeveless shirt… You made me enjoy the game even more…” The Swiss would have been better off going to Malaga to give Rafa Nadal a hug on the day of his final than publishing a viral letter. A mistake.
Novak Djokovic ‘s situation is also unexplainable. The Serbian is in Marbella and his plans were to go and see Rafa Nadal at the weekend . He also expected Spain to eliminate the Netherlands and his calculations went wrong. Djokovic does not have the same feeling for Nadal that the Balearic player does for Federer. But he could have made an appearance at the Martín Carpena in a gesture of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
He who sows, reaps. Rafa Nadal has been an example of an athlete, both in victory and in defeat, and as a teammate . He has given joy to fans for two decades, he has made us vibrate, he has made us excited, he has made us feel proud of his race, competitiveness, spirit… He deserved a warmer farewell and in a venue where there were no empty seats .