Marc López to Replace David Ferrer as Spain’s Davis Cup Captain From 2027

Marc López will succeed David Ferrer as Spain’s Davis Cup captain starting in 2027

Marc López will take over as the captain of the Selección Española Generali de Tenis on January 1, 2027, succeeding David Ferrer. The Real Federación Española de Tenis board of directors announced the appointment following Ferrer’s decision to step down from the role at the end of the current year.

López, a 44-year-old from Barcelona, will lead the team for the next three seasons, through 2029. Before assuming the captaincy, he will continue working as an assistant coach to David Ferrer through the Davis Cup finals, scheduled from November 24 to 29 in Bologna, Italy, a position he has held since the 2025 qualifier that faced Spain against Denmark in Marbella.

Transition in the Spanish dugout

David Ferrer announced he will not continue leading the team he has directed since 2023, citing personal reasons and a desire to begin a new chapter. During his tenure, Spain reached the final last year against Italy, and in 2024 fell in the quarterfinals against the Netherlands in the tie where Rafa Nadal said goodbye to tennis with a defeat against Botic Van de Zandschulp. In his first year at the helm, La Armada missed out on the final phase. Before moving into the coaching ranks, Ferrer participated in the conquest of three Davis Cup titles as a player in 2008, 2009, and 2011, defeating Argentina in 2008, staging a comeback against Czech player Stepanek after losing the first two sets in 2009, winning again against Argentina in 2011, and adding a runner-up finish in 2012.

López steps up

López has served as an assistant coach under Ferrer since the 2025 qualifier that faced Spain against Denmark in Marbella. The transition ensures continuity within the coaching staff as Spain prepares for the upcoming matches in Bologna.

In his playing days, López retired in May 2022, having reached world number 3 as one of the best Spanish doubles players of all time. He captured the 2012 doubles Masters title alongside Marcel Granollers—becoming only the second Spanish pair in history to win the tournament after Manuel Orantes and Juan Gisbert in 1975—and won Roland Garros in 2016 paired with Feliciano López. Later that same year, he claimed the gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games alongside Rafael Nadal. He also reached three other Grand Slam finals, two with Marcel Granollers at Roland Garros and the US Open in 2014, and the last with Feliciano López at the 2017 US Open. In the Davis Cup, he debuted with Spain in 2012 and accumulated 13 ties, playing in the Centenary final the very year of his debut.

Bolonia finals approach with squad selection pending

Spain enters the finals in Bologna as one of the tournament favorites, opening against Austria in the quarterfinals. If they advance, they will face the winner of the tie between Germany and Great Britain, while the other side of the bracket features host and three-time defending champion Italy, South Korea, Canada, and the Czech Republic.

The team will likely be formed by Carlos Alcaraz, Rafa Jódar, Marcel Granollers, Jaume Munar/Pedro Martínez, and the fifth player will be decided between Dani Mérida or Alejandro Davidovich, champion of the Shanghai Masters and absent in the last ties.

More on this story: David Ferrer Steps Down as Spain Davis Cup Captain After 2026 Finals

More on Davis Cup: FITP President Binaghi: Winning a Fourth Davis Cup Would Be Exaggerated, But We'll Try · Alejandro Davidovich targets Davis Cup spot after Shanghai title