Moya Taking Slow Approach As New Davis Cup Captain

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 25th October 2013

Former world number one Moya to captain Spain's Davis Cup team

Moya Taking Slow Approach As New Davis Cup Captain

epa03904693 Spain's new Davis Cup captain Carlos Moya poses during his presentation at the High Council for Sport (CSD) headquarters in Madrid, central Spain, 10 October 2013. Moya, a former world number one and one of the most charismatic players in Spain's tennis history, was appointed as the country's new Davis Cup captain. As he was formally unveiled as the replacement of outgoing captain Alex Corretja, he mentioned winning Spain's 'sixth salad bowl' as his main goal on the job. EPA/CHEMA MOYA |

A few weeks after taking over the Spanish Davis Cup captaincy, former No. 1 Carlos Moya has not yet bothered to speak with his tennis troops.

This is a squad deep in talent starting with world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and including No. 3 David Ferrer. As a former champion, Moya knows his men have more on their plate as the busy ATP season draws to a close over the next fortnight, with his top two then committed to the World Tour Finals in London.

So it’s all in good time for Moya, once a mentor to the younger Nadal as a fellow player from the island of Mallorca. “At the moment they are really focused on their competitions,” the new skipper told the Madrid Masters website. “We have players who are fighting to be the No. 1 in the world, the world No. 3, fighting to get into the top 10 or the Masters in London in the case of the doubles.

“So I decided to give them space and to let them concentrate on that and I will have time to meet them later.”

But the lack of an early approach does not diminish Moya’s desire to return Spain to the summit after winning five titles since 2000 in the worldwide team competition. “We are Spain, we have the No. 1 and No. 3 in the world, several others in the top 20, two pairs in the top five in the world,” said Moya.

“So we have to aim for the top. Managing the team will be the most important thing. Now I will be their coach. I am not going to make them play good tennis, or bad tennis, in other words, they will not improve under me, nothing of the sort. It is more about managing the team and giving my outside point of view at key moments and offering my experience from the past.”

Moya brings major credentials to the job, having won 20 ATP titles, including the 1998 French Open. He also reached the finals of the Australian Open and the Masters Cup. And he knows the emotion generated by Davis Cup success. “I have always said that the victory in Seville (over the US in the 2004 final) is the biggest thing that happened to me.

“My experiences there in front of 27,000 supporters and winning the trophy at home is practically unbeatable on an emotional level. Then, obviously, on a sporting level, nothing compares to being number one and winning a grand slam.”

The nation starts with Germany in the Davis Cup first round next February.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Australian Open, Carlos Moya, David Ferrer, Davis Cup, French Open, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News