Some fans think Rafael Nadal's selection for singles in his farewell at the Davis Cup Finals was a mistake, but Spanish captain David Ferrer strongly defended the move.
Speculation lingered for weeks before the Davis Cup Finals about whether Nadal would play in the singles, doubles, or both. He announced last month that the team event would be his final professional appearance before retiring.
Ferrer received daily updates from Nadal's team about his progress, and every measure was taken to try to get the 38-year-old fit and ready for his farewell appearance on home soil in Malaga.
Although the crowd who bought tickets undoubtedly wanted to see Nadal on the court in his farewell appearance, he insisted that Ferrer do what was in the team's best interests and not consider his retirement.
Ferrer decided to pick Nadal for the opening singles match against Botic van de Zandschulp. The Dutchman shocked Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, showing he is comfortable on the biggest stage.
That proved to be the case again. Despite fighting as hard as ever, Nadal was second-best throughout the contest and lost 4-6, 4-6 to van de Zandschulp, putting his career in jeopardy.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Tallon Griekspoor to keep Nadal's career alive, but it ended in disaster for Nadal and Spain. Wesley Koolhof and van de Zandschulp triumphed against Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers to seal the Netherlands' place in the semifinal and end Nadal's career.
That inevitably led to Ferrer's decision-making being questioned. Playing Roberto Bautista Agut in singles and Nadal and Alcaraz in doubles was another option that could have been chosen, especially since Nadal and Alcaraz partnered at the Olympics.
However, Ferrer could have become enemy No. 1 among the paying fans in the arena if he had done this since the doubles would not have been played if Spain or the Netherlands had taken an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Ferrer did not directly say that was the reason an interview with El Partidazo de Cope, but hinted at it by stating he had to give Nadal an opportunity after seeing some improvements from him in training.
"I knew that between Rafa and Roberto, seeing how they trained and Rafa improving day by day, I was confident that Rafa is a competitive beast. It was an unknown but if I had to bet on someone, I had to give him that opportunity."
The Spanish captain also justified his doubles decision by mentioning Alcaraz and Granollers' superior serves on an indoor hardcourt and that Nadal had not played in doubles since the Olympics, although that was with Alcaraz.
"And in doubles, Granollers and Carlos had already played together, Carlos is powerful serving on an indoor court and so is Granollers. In doubles, Rafa had not played since the Games."
Ferrer also felt Nadal's strategy of playing further back in the court after the first set was the wrong move on the quick indoor hardcourt in Malaga.
"When he loses the first set. He’s worried because he can’t find his feeling. He tells me he’s going to play further back, although I didn’t think it was appropriate on such a fast court."