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Saturday, 23 Nov 2024

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Why Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer missed Rafael Nadal's farewell match

Nadal's great rivals Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray had confirmed to Davis Cup Tournament Director Feliciano Lopez that they wanted to attend the Spanish icon's farewell party. "Novak Djokovic has said he wants to be there and also Andy Murray. There are many more who want to be there and I don't know if we are going to have seats for everyone,” Lopez said. Roger Federer kept tight-lipped about a possible appearance, but most expected he would turn up and return the favour after Nadal played in his last-ever doubles match at the 2022 Laver Cup in London. But in the end the remaining members of the Big Four as well as his former coach Toni Nadal and other high-profile figures from the sport were absent at Tuesday's celebrations in Malaga with only the Spanish tennis community and Nadal's closest family and friends at the Martin Carpena Arena. His Spain Davis Cup team-mates – led by Carlos Alcaraz and captain David Ferrer – were always going to be part of the celebrations and farewell while his coach Carlos Moya was also on the bench for his final match. Nadal's wife Maria Francisca and son Rafa Nadal Junior were accompanied by his parents, Ana Maria and Sebastia, and his sister Maribel. Other long-term members of his team – including coaches Marc Lopez and Gustavo Marcaccio, his former coach Francis Roig, his physio Rafa Maymo, his nutritionist Nuria Granados, his agent Carlos Costa and his press officer Benito Perez-Barbadillo – were seen in Malaga. But most tennis A-listers did not make it to the match and the reason has been revealed. According to Spanish paper El Espanol, the farewell celebrations were only due to take place on Friday as Spain were expected to reach the semi-final of the Davis Cup. Spain lost the quarter-final 2-1 against the Netherlands on Tuesday and that spoiled the party. The likes of Djokovic, Murray and Federer were only set to arrive in Malaga on Friday morning with the official ceremony planned for later in the day, but Spain's early exit spoiled the surprise for Nadal. The trio, though, did take part in a farewell video that was shared on the big screen inside the arena. Toni Nadal, meanwhile, was unable to attend Tuesday's match due to work commitments in Rome, but hinted he would make it to the venue later in the week had Spain reached the latter stages of the Davis Cup. Spain's early exit from the tournament meant the planned Friday farewell had to be cancelled with Nadal given a sendoff after the doubles defeat to the Netherlands.

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