LONDON — The feud between the Spanish tennis federation and top players over Gala Leon's appointment as the nation's first female Davis Cup captain is damaging for the sport and could deter sponsors, Rafa Nadal said on Saturday.
Nadal and compatriots like David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo reacted with disbelief when the federation (RFET) announced Leon's appointment in September, prompting accusations they objected to her because she is a woman.
Leon, who had a career-high ranking of 27 as a player, was a surprise choice to replace Carlos Moya, who stood down after the five-times Davis Cup winners were relegated from the World Group following defeat against Brazil in a playoff.