Feliciano Lopez debuts in Valencia in the position of Tournament Director for the Finals of Davis cup 2023, in which it happens precisely to the new captain of the Spanish team, the Valencian David Ferrertowards whom he only has praise. Retired from the courts since this summer, the Madrid native has participated in five editions as a player, having won four Saladeras with Spain, in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019, and at 41 years old he has become director of a tournament whose format he believes is appropriate, and that It is hoped that it will continue to be held for many years in Spain and specifically, in Valencia, with the Roig Arena awaiting one of the editions agreed upon between the city and the ITF until 2026.. Feliciano López appreciates the presence of the number one and brand new winner of the US Open, his 24th Grand Slam, Novak Djokovicand although he sees Serbia as a clear favorite for this, trusts in the possibilities of the Spanish team to reach the Malaga Finals (November 21-26). He spoke about all these topics and more with Superdeporte, from the Prensa Ibérica group, before the competition started this Tuesday with the match between Serbia and South Korea.
Do you suffer more as a player or as director of Davis?
You suffer more as a player. Now I suffer for everything to go well and for Spain to qualify. Those are the two things that keep me a little in suspense. But when you play tennis you live moments with emotions that are different and are not comparable. Now I suffer because Spain passes and that at an organizational level everything is up to par for a competition like this and the teams are happy.
“We are in good hands with David Ferrer. Spain could not have a better captain. I always say it, he is the best Davis Cup player I have seen”
Its premiere occurs in the first edition since the breakup of Kosmos, inventor of the current format, with the ITF…
The Kosmos format of the first year has nothing to do with this one. We are in a very good moment, this format satisfies everyone. Many people and young players don’t know him. There is a very big generational change. Young people who do not know what this competition means and have known it in this format, not in the old one, and we have to explain it and make them understand what it means and the emotions it has provoked in the best tennis players. Proof of this is that Djokovic has just won his 24th Grand Slam and is here representing his country. That tells you what the Davis Cup represents for all players.
The Davis Cup once again has a marked Valencian role, with Ferrer as captain, and Bautista and Zapata on the team. And the fans filling the games in Spain.
The Valencian Community has always been a land of great tennis players, not now, many champions, and the same today. In the team we have Zapata, Bautista, and for me it is no surprise. Barcelona and Valencia are where most of our tennis players have historically come from, it doesn’t surprise me. And I hope the public responds like last year. Tomorrow the court will be full, today at 75 percent, a great success considering that Spain is not playing. It’s going to be tough but I hope that Spain will qualify.
“In Valencia these two years things have gone very well. If they want to host the finals, hopefully at the Roig Arena, obviously it will be valued with affection because Valencia has always opted for tennis”
Valencia has a commitment to the ITF and Davis until 2026. In 2024 the Roig Arena will be finished. Will we one day see the Finals in the new coliseum?
Hopefully. I think that the city of Valencia has invested a lot in tennis. We already played in the Plaza de Toros with the previous format, and there was an ATP250 tournament that grew to ATP500. The Finals are right now in Malaga. They have to renew their contract, and we are delighted that Valencia can present a bid to host the finals if that is the city’s idea. We can’t be more than grateful for your support of tennis. As it is not yet known, we have to wait and see which cities are willing to host the finals or group stage. In Valencia these two years things have gone very well. If they want to host the finals, it will obviously be valued carefully because Valencia has always opted for tennis.
Without Carlos Alcaraz, Serbia is the clear favorite for one of the two tickets to the Malaga Finals. And the other…?
Serbia has the world number one and the recent winner of the US Open. They are favorites, yes, but Spain, despite the loss of Carlos Alcaraz, is going to be a competitive team. Davidovich is a young man with a lot of potential, already established among the best, who will lead the team. Zapata has not participated yet. Bautista with a lot of experience. And Ramos, who has played in recent years. We are in a position to compete with everyone and qualify. Winning or losing are small details that make the difference, but I think Spain is going to qualify and I hope so.
“We are in a position to compete with everyone and qualify. Winning or losing are small details that make the difference, but I think Spain is going to qualify and I hope so”
How do you see the current Davis Cup format?
I see the format well. There has been a lot of talk about the format, but I think we are in a good moment. It has a little bit of everything, it maintains the old format that is the essence of the competition. And people are generally satisfied. Good position to continue growing, and make young people and new generations see what the Davis Cup means, the emotions it produces. Many are aware, but there are players who have not experienced this yet. We are in a good moment, really. Happy to be here, and grateful to the city of Valencia. We played before in the bullring, which was the last game for David Ferrer, who won the tie in the last game. And Spain has subsequently been betting on tennis, in Madrid, in Malaga, and I hope they qualify.
How would you define Group C in Valencia?
It’s a tough group. It will not be easy. The good thing is that Spain competes well, despite the losses of different players. It hasn’t always been won, but it has always competed head-to-head with the best. Serbia is the favorite, with Djokovic who has just won his 24th Grand Slam, but the group is tough, even though Korea seems like the ugly duckling… But I trust I can pull it off.
“That Djokovic is here is proof of what this competition is about. After winning his 24th Grand Slam at the US Open, the fact that he represents his country tells you a lot. We are very grateful”
There are significant losses in the four venues, but many of the 25 best in the world will also play.
No format guarantees that everyone will play, I’ll tell you that. Years of experience are key and numbers don’t lie. The same thing happened before. And even if this is the ideal, people will continue to fail because the calendar is what it is. It doesn’t solve the problem. It’s a very good moment and I like this format, and I think most people do too. I do not sincerely believe that there is an ideal format, due to the calendar and millions of commitments. We can’t complain about the number of good players who are in the group stage this week.
Novak Djokovic was not there last year, but Alcaraz was. This year it’s the other way around…
That Djokovic is here is proof of what this competition is. After winning his 24th Grand Slam at the US Open, him representing his country tells you a lot. We are very grateful. People have to see what this competition means for the world of tennis. It says a lot about his commitment. The Davis Cup is a competition that must have provoked incredible emotions for you to return again to feel them. It is a clear example of commitment and what the Davis Cup represents.
“I think we are in a good moment. What happens is that the calendar is very demanding, but we cannot think that the format is bad and that is why the players do not come. It is a lie, because I have played the Davis Cup for 20 years and the good guys didn’t play either”
And despite the format, it is the second consecutive year that the world number one plays in Valencia. Where can the possible changes go…?
For now the idea is to continue improving. We always have in mind to look for solutions if problems arise with this format, and we are always willing to evolve. But we believe we are in a good moment. The essence of the competition, being able to play away or at home in February is maintained, and the second part is adapted to today’s tennis. We can’t play so many playoffs. The new Madrid format is not the same as now in Valencia and Malaga. When there is such a radical change, it is normal that it causes rejection in people, but we work in a format appropriate to the times we are in, and I think we are in a good moment. The thing is that the calendar is very demanding, but we cannot think that the format is bad and that is why the players do not come. It’s a lie, because I’ve played the Davis Cup for 20 years and the good guys didn’t play either. Each player makes their own decisions, they have their own equipment and experience different situations, and each one decides what to do with their schedule. We are in a good moment today, we have almost 80 percent of tickets sold for Serbia-Korea, and Spain is not playing. It’s a process, you can’t go from zero to one hundred in one year. We are working to consolidate it.
How is the public responding to the issue of tickets for the second time in Valencia?
The truth is that it is going very well, there are 75-80 percent sold and people are responding both here in Valencia and in Malaga last year, the numbers were spectacular and Spain lost in the quarterfinals. We have to be positive with the data we have. We are in a good moment.
And in addition to Feli as Tournament Director, David Ferrer also debuts as captain.
We are in good hands with David Ferrer. Spain cannot have a better captain. I always say it, he is the best Davis Cup player I have ever seen. The record he has both at home and away in games won is brutal. I always wish the best to the Spanish teams, but with him in the chair even more so.
2023-09-12 17:38:08
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