David Haggerty, President of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), has responded to criticism surrounding Rafael Nadal’s farewell ceremony, asserting that the event was organized according to the wishes of the Spanish tennis legend. Nadal, 38, played his final professional match last Tuesday, losing to the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp, which resulted in Spain’s exit from the Davis Cup Finals at the quarterfinal stage.
Following the defeat, Nadal addressed the audience during a special ceremony that featured highlights from his illustrious career, alongside heartfelt messages from tennis greats such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Serena Williams. However, the farewell has faced backlash, with some critics labeling it an inadequate send-off for one of the sport’s all-time greats. Nadal’s coach, Carlos Moya, referred to the ceremony as “tacky,” while Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer described it as “weak.” Nadal’s uncle, Toni, also expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he “did not like it.”
In defense of the ceremony, Haggerty emphasized the importance of honoring Nadal’s legacy. “Rafa is an amazing player with a legacy that will inspire millions of players around the world,” he said. “We felt it was crucial to listen to what Rafa wanted and how he wished to be celebrated. That’s exactly what we did.”
Haggerty further noted, “We took his lead and delivered on that. People can have their opinions on whether it was right or not, but to me, the most important thing was that we delivered a ceremony that was what Rafa wanted—and, being who he is, it was a great evening and much appreciated.”
In his retirement speech, Nadal reflected on his journey, humbly stating that he was “a kid from a small village” who achieved his dreams.
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