Tennis-Nadal criticises decision on Davis Cup captains
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-30 09:38

MADRID, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal has criticised the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) for their decision to drop Davis Cup captains Jordi Arrese and Juan Bautista Avendano.

Spain's Rafael Nadal bites the China Open trophy during the prize presentation ceremony at the Beijing Tennis Centre in Beijing September 18, 2005. Top seed Nadal beat Argentina's Guillermo Coria 5-7 6-1 6-2 to win the China Open on Sunday, securing his 10th title of the year.[Reuters]

"The Federation promised them they would have the post for two years and now they have gone back on their word," the French Open champion told Spanish media on Thursday.

"I want to send all my support to the captains because they were the best people for the team and I was really happy working with them."

World number two Nadal was a member of Spain's Davis Cup team when they won the tournament in 2004 under the guidance of Arrese and Avendano.

Spain lost to Slovakia in this year's World Group first round tie though victory over Italy last weekend kept them in the elite group for 2006 when they will first play Belarus.

RFET president Pedro Munoz had said earlier that the captains' contracts had not been renewed because the organisation was looking to find a new direction.

"We have officially brought to an end the idea of having two captains. The philosophy will now be to just have one captain," Munoz told Spanish media.

Munoz made it clear that Emilio Sanchez Vicario, the elder brother of women's former world number one Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, is his preferred choice.

He said: "He has always given his all as a tennis player and he was a great Davis Cup competitor.

"But we have not yet made an offer because we need to elicit a consensus from within the organisation and from among the players first."

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