As widely expected, Carlos Moya will today be named as Spain’s new Davis Cup captain in succession to his one-time rival and close friend Alex Corretja who was not retained by the Real Federación Española de Tenis.
The close relationship between Moya and his fellow Mallorcan Rafael Nadal would appear to be crucial to the new captaincy that will formally begin at the start of 2014.
Yesterday was a day Moya will remember for some time. Not only was he informed of his new job but was also informed his partner, actress Carolina Cerezuela was pregnant with their third child. Using Twitter to stress his joy he wrote: “A very interesting day. Personally and professionally speaking.”
Moya beat Corretja to win the 1998 French Open title and early the next year he ascended to the world no.1 ranking, unseating Pete Sampras for a fortnight in the top spot.
He also clinched the winning point for five-time champion nation Spain in the 2004 Davis Cup final, beating Andy Roddick of the United States in the decisive fourth rubber in the Olympic Stadium, Seville.
In Moya’s first tie in charge next February, Spain will travel to Germany looking to continue a three-tie winning run against their European rivals. As a player he registered a 20-7 winning record in the competition, playing 15 ties between making his debut as a 20 year-old in 1996 and bowing out after the 2004 final.
Moya is a family friend of Nadal and even a member of world no.1’s extended entourage. The pair have been close since Moya first practiced with his fellow islander when Nadal was aged just 12.
“I think a Nadal in Spain happens once in a lifetime,” he said. “I don’t think we are going to see another Rafa ever in Spain.
“For sure it was a help, that when he had something to ask, he had someone to ask it to. That is not easy when you are so young and you live on an island. But in the same way he also helped me to improve: you don’t want to lose to a kid when you are in the top 10 in the world. And that happened, very often, when we were practicing.”
Topics: 10sballs.com, Alex Corretja, Andy Roddick, Carlos Moya, Davis Cup, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Real FederacióN EspañOla De Tenis, Tennis, Tennis News