By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press
Rafael Nadal’s coach criticized the appointment of a woman as the captain of Spain’s Davis Cup team on Tuesday, arguing there are substantial differences between the men’s and women’s games.
His comments have been labeled sexist by Spain’s leading political parties, and go against the backing the decision has received from others in tennis.
Gala Leon, a former WTA player, became the first woman to be appointed captain of the country’s Davis Cup team on Sunday, replacing Carlos Moya.
“It is preferable that (the captain) is someone with a background in the world of men’s tennis,” Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s coach and uncle, told Onda Cero radio.
“I have nothing against her, I don’t know what her capabilities are, and I hope she does her job well, but in theory she is a person that doesn’t know men’s tennis, because men’s tennis isn’t the same as women’s tennis.
“The truth is that the men’s game isn’t the same as the women’s game on the tactical level, not that one is better than the other.”
Toni Nadal said he would have agreed with the decision if “you could tell me that she had spent 10 years coaching” on the men’s circuit. He added that he expected the job to go to a former men’s player, such as Juan Carlos Ferrero, to continue the recent line of Albert Costa, Alex Corretja and Moya.
Wimbledon and U.S. Open winner Andy Murray tweeted his congratulations to the 40-year-old Leon on Monday. Murray is coached by Amelie Mauresmo.
International Tennis Federation vice president Juan Margets also congratulated Leon in a letter, according to the Spanish tennis federation.
The appointment of Leon “will help end prejudices” said Alfonso Alonso, parliament member of the ruling Popular Party, while Socialist parliament member Antonio Hernando said “it’s best to call things by their name -these are sexist comments.”
Toni Nadal’s position also has Spanish tennis history against it.
While the Davis Cup team has never had a female captain, the Fed Cup team had a male captain, Miguel Margets, for almost 20 years before Arantxa Sanchez Vicario took his place in 2011.
Rafael Nadal last played for Spain a year ago. Spain has lost both of its ties without the 14-time Grand Slam champion. Its 3-1 loss at Brazil last weekend relegated the five-time champions from the World Group for the first time since 1999, leading to Moya’s exit.
Toni Nadal said Leon’s appointment would not stop Rafael from returning to the team.
Leon played 651 WTA matches and won one title at the Madrid Open in 2000, the year she reached her highest rank of 27. She played in the Fed Cup in 1996-97, 1999, and 2001. After retiring, she coached female players, and in June became the first women to be appointed sports director of the Spanish tennis federation.
Source : Sapa-AP /pvr