Corretja out as Spain’s Davis Cup Captain

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 4th October 2013

Corretja out as Spain's Davis Cup Captain

epa03469632 Spanish team captain Alex Corretja (R) and Spanish tennis player Marcel Grannolers look on during a press conference of Spanish Davis Cup team in Prague, Czech Republic, 13 November 2012. Spain will play against the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup World Group final from 16 until 18 November in Prague. EPA/FILIP SINGER |

As reported in yesterday’s Tennis News, Spain has decided not to renew Alex Corretja’s contract as Davis Cup captain after his two year tenure of the post saw them reach the 2012 final, only to lose to the Czech Republic, and then crash out of this year’s World Group competition at the first round stage to Canada. And the former world no.2 is understandably annoyed.

In all, Corretja’s record in charge after succeeding his friend and fellow Catalan Albert Costa was 4-2, including the recent 5-0 win over the Ukraine in the World Group promotion/relegation play-off held in Madrid where Rafael Nadal made his first appearance under the new captaincy.

Corretja vented his disappointment at the decision, reached by Real Federacion Espanola de Tenis (Spanish Tennis Federation) president José Luis Escañuela, selections coordinator Pere Hernandez and Costa who now fills the role of technical director as well as tournament director of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, with the Barcelona published newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.

He told the nation’s longest established sports newspaper: “They didn’t give me reasons why I wasn’t renewed or told me who the new captain would be. Two months ago Albert Costa said he thought I should continue. I do not know what has changed since then, because we have even won the playoff.”

But Corretja added that disagreements between him and Escañuela had been quite regular although none seemed serious. “During the meeting he (Costa) said the decision was the president’s,” added the ousted man.

The root of the problem does not seem to be results but the power of players’ individual coaches and the common belief that Corretja had told them they weren’t welcome on the official team bench during ties.

Corretja refuted such stories, which he believed were purposefully leaked to the Spanish press, as nefarious and untrue, calling then ‘lies and atrocities’. He said: “It’s the Federation’s right not to renew me, but I think it should stop the slandering and I believe personally and athletically they should say these rumors are not true.”

He continued: “My relationship with the players is excellent.

I do not wear mask. I have always been very caring and all decisions I made, I was thinking what was best for the team. I had to call up 10 different players in six ties, which I think is a record for our country.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Albert Costa, Alex Corretja, Davis Cup, Rafael Nadal, Tennis, Tennis News