Rafael Nadal’s ‘weak’ farewell ceremony slammed by Spain captain and uncle Toni with Roger Federer conspicuously absent

RAFA NADAL'S farewell ceremonial has been criticised by Spain's Davis Cup skipper and the icon's uncle Toni.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion, 38, retired successful Malaga connected Wednesday aft his country's exit successful the Davis Cup Finals.

Nadal, who has struggled with injuries successful caller years, was beaten 6-4 6-4 by Botic van de Zandchulp.

He got affectional during the nationalist anthem earlier the commencement of play - and was past fixed a heroic send-off by team-mates and fans successful attendance.

A four-and-a-half-minute video was played implicit the large surface with classy tributes from chap tennis stars Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Conchita Martinez, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

However, the likes of Federer, Djokovic and Murray were not astatine the lawsuit successful idiosyncratic - contrasting Federer's status 2 years ago.

And Spanish Davis Cup skipper David Ferrer has admitted helium was disappointed by the goodbye.

He said: "The farewell to idiosyncratic arsenic important arsenic Rafa was a spot weak.

"There were precise important radical missing from his tennis vocation and radical who person been important, some astatine the level of rivals and besides successful the team.

"There was small notation of his team, who spent truthful galore years with his tennis vocation and I missed those radical besides having their role, but things are arsenic they are.

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"You person to judge them and determination is small much to say. Rafa volition person definite tributes successful large tournaments, arsenic I ideate volition beryllium the lawsuit astatine Roland Garros and helium volition person the farewell helium deserves."

He went connected to add: "Rafa's greatness deserves thing more. The farewell was done with the champion of intentions, it was aft losing and successful a hurry… erstwhile you suffer you're sad.

"I missed Federer, Djokovic, Gasol, who is simply a adjacent person of his... helium was going to beryllium determination connected Friday. I shouldn't person spoken, and look, he's a adjacent person of mine, different radical should person spoken."

Nadal's uncle Toni coached his nephew from puerility up until 2017, helping him triumph 16 of his 22 Slam titles.

And helium excessively replied "no" erstwhile asked if helium felt the farewell ceremonial was up to scratch.

Toni elaborated by saying: "It was emotional, obviously, with the enactment of the public… But I peculiarly similar that determination are images.

"I would person liked to spot images of Rafael's matches astatine the Davis Cup successful Seville, successful Madrid, astatine Roland Garros, Wimbledon… I deliberation it creates much emotion.

"I don't privation to criticise anyone, I would person liked a somewhat antithetic event. I admit the bully intentions, but I would person liked thing else.

"Nowadays you tin bash overmuch much affectional events by mixing euphony with images. Rafael is simply a feline whose images convey passion. If they had enactment immoderate images of this, it would person been much up to par, but I admit the intention."