David Ferrer commented on the court conditions at the Davis Cup finals.
Spain’s team captain watched his team suffer a shock defeat to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
The 2-1 loss also marked the end of Rafael Nadal’s career, after the 38-year-old previously announced he would bid farewell to tennis at the tournament.
Despite playing in front of their home fans, Spain’s hopes of winning their first Davis Cup title since 2019 came to a premature end, while The Netherlands made the semi-finals for the first time since 2001.
What did David Ferrer say about the Davis Cup finals court conditions and his team selection?
The court conditions at the Davis Cup finals were lightning quick, and this spelled trouble for Nadal when he played his final singles match against Botic van de Zandschulp.
Competing against a dangerous player on his least favourite surface, having not played competitively since the Olympics in July, was always going to be a huge challenge for the retiring Nadal.
He fought until the very end and showed glimpses of his brilliance, but Van de Zandschulp was able to claim a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Though Carlos Alcaraz beat Tallon Griekspoor to level the tie, the World number three and Marcel Granollers lost to Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof in the deciding doubles match.
Some suggested that perhaps Roberto Bautista Agut should have played singles instead of Nadal, while the 22-time Grand Slam champion should have played the deciding doubles match with Alcaraz.
In response to his team selection, Ferrer told reporters: “It wasn’t difficult. In the end, I am the captain. I decided that the players that they are going to play, and we knew that Holland, they have good players. And with this format is never easy.
“The court is faster than usual on the tour. This is not an excuse, because at the end, they do deserve to win the tie, and congrats.
“In the end, this is sport, and, well, now it’s a night that we are of course disappointed because we play at home with our crowd, and yeah, we are sad, of course.
“But I am proud of my players. They try to do their best. They compete. As I said before, this is sport. We have to accept it and nothing else.”
David Ferrer comments on Rafael Nadal’s farewell after Davis Cup finals defeat
Following Spain’s defeat to The Netherlands in the Davis Cup finals, a farewell ceremony was conducted in honour of Nadal, whose career was now over.
Ferrer issued a tribute, while an emotional Nadal addressed the crowd as he was given a standing ovation. Post-match the 2013 French Open runner-up spoke about the ceremony and was saddened that it took place after a defeat and some big names were msising.
“I am saddened by it all, by how it went, by losing the tie. It was not the scenario we wanted. We were the favourites, but we didn’t show it,” he told El Partidazo de COPE.
“The farewell of someone as important as Rafa felt lacklustre. 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.”
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