David Ferrer was presented, this Monday, as the new captain of the Spanish MAPFRE Davis Cup Tennis Team, at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Higher Sports Council (CSD) in Madrid. Ferrer will lead the Spanish team for the next three seasons.
"I am very excited because in the Davis Cup I have experienced the greatest emotions of my tennis career," said the former Spanish champion, who was accompanied by the president of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET), Miguel Díaz, and the president of the CSD, José Manuel Franco.
David Ferrer replaces Sergi Bruguera, captain for the last four years, in which he won the sixth salad bowl for Spain in 2019. Now, the former tennis player from Xàbia and new national coach has explained that "I would not have accepted this captaincy if the The players wouldn't have wanted to. It's the right time, I've been retired for a while and I also like it. It wasn't hard for me to decide. I thought about it with the closest environment and with the players."
Ferrer added that: "The important thing is the players and Spain has an exceptional batch of players, starting with Rafa Nadal, with whom it is easier to win the Davis Cup, although a team is needed. We have that. As captain I will do everything possible to add and do everything possible to get the most out of it."
Regarding the possible return to Nadal's team, he has assured that: “At no time has he been ruled out and when the time comes I will speak with him. He will have my full support whether he is there or not. If someone deserves all the confidence and to be exempt from any doubt, it is Rafa."
Of Carlos Alcaraz he has highlighted that: “He has the material of a leader and what he has achieved at the age of 19 I have seen very few people. Only Rafa Nadal or Novak Djokovic. He assumes a pressure that any player does not assume."
The event was also attended by the RFET sports director, Javier Soler, and MAPFRE's brand and reputation director, Fernando Garrido.
Spain will debut in the 2023 Davis Cup directly in the group stage to be played in Valencia the week of September 11, after receiving an invitation that exempts them from playing the Qualifier in February.