Novak Djokovic has joined the chorus of voices criticizing Rafael Nadal’s retirement ceremony, which followed the Spanish legend’s last professional match at the 2024 Davis Cup finals.

Despite a glittering career, Nadal’s swansong was marred by Spain’s quarterfinal exit, leading to a somewhat subdued farewell. The event’s organisers faced backlash for what some deemed a hasty and inadequate tribute to Nadal’s legacy.

Djokovic, who was notably absent from the proceedings, opened up about his absence during the Australian Open. “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,” he said.

“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.. Unfortunately, it turned out the way it did, what are you gonna do? More than that, I don’t really know.

“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.”

Although Nadal was able to wave goodbye to tennis on his own turf with the Davis Cup taking place in Spain, even his fellow countrymen felt the goodbye ceremony fell short, reports the Express. After the event in November, Nadal’s former coach Carlos Moya expressed his disappointment to Ondacero:

“The feeling we are all left with is that the farewell was a bit scruffy and shabby,” he said. “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.”