Tenerife, Spain – Davis Cup captain David Ferrer is meticulously charting a course for Spain’s defense, and potential expansion, of their Davis Cup success. A recent swing through the Challenger circuit, specifically the double challenger event in Tenerife, provided a crucial opportunity to assess the depth of Spanish talent beyond the established stars. Ferrer emphasized the importance of staying connected with players at all levels, a commitment evident in his attendance and observations.
Ferrer, who guided Spain to the Davis Cup final in Bologna last year, is balancing immediate objectives – like the upcoming away tie against Chile in September – with a long-term vision for sustained success. The Tenerife Challenger, featuring promising players like Daniel Merida, Pablo Llamas Ruiz, and Alejandro Moro Canas, offered a valuable snapshot of the next generation.
“I saw several games at the Tenerife Challenger,” Ferrer explained. “As a Davis Cup captain, I of course follow all Spanish players, not just those on the big tour. Pablo Llamas trains at my academy, Daniel Merida in Alicante. Daniel won last week and was in the semi-finals again afterwards. He is making great progress and is taking the right steps towards the Davis Cup. The conditions in Tenerife in February suit the players.”
The proliferation of Challenger events within Spain is a significant development Ferrer acknowledges positively. He reflected on his own early career, noting the limited opportunities available at the time. “At the beginning of my career, I was often on the Challenger Tour. I often played in Italy and France, because there were perhaps only two in Spain at the time, in Barcelona and Pozoblanco. Today there are significantly more. They offer the players a platform to develop. The association is doing a good job in this regard.”
For players like Alejandro Moro Canas, a Davis Cup appearance represents the pinnacle of their ambitions. “To be able to represent Spain in tennis once is perhaps my biggest goal of all,” Moro Canas stated. “We have so many great players. But to be able to represent my country at least once would be wonderful. I will give everything to it all season.”
While the future looks bright with emerging talents like Rafael Jodar and Martin Landaluce, Ferrer cautioned against direct comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz. “They are already surprising me with their maturity,” Ferrer said of Jodar and Landaluce. “Their path is different than that of Alcaraz – Carlos is like Rafael Nadal: players like that are rare. Jodar and Landaluce can reach the top 20, that’s great for our future, but comparisons are misplaced.”
The increased depth within Spanish tennis presents both opportunities and challenges for Ferrer. “In my time, Spain didn’t have that many players to choose from. Now there are several options. In Chile they play at altitude, it will be hard – but I’ll make final decisions later. These are sporting, not personal.”
Much of Ferrer’s optimism stems from the recent triumph of Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open. The victory was particularly noteworthy given Alcaraz’s recent separation from long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. “Ending such a long collaboration is never easy,” Ferrer acknowledged. “But Carlos has shown maturity and developed further. There is also Samuel López – I agree with Carlos when he says that he is one of the best coaches in the world. He has done a great job with top players and can also be successful with Alcaraz.”
Looking ahead, Ferrer refrained from making definitive predictions about Alcaraz’s ultimate potential, but acknowledged his place among the sport’s elite. “If you ask who could perhaps one day achieve the number of successes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer, then from today’s perspective it’s him and Jannik Sinner. They push each other. In Melbourne, Carlos gained a lot of self-confidence, but we know how strong Sinner can be in Indian Wells and Miami. It’s hard to say who is the stronger – and in the next 10 to 15 years more talent will certainly emerge.”
Ferrer’s commitment to scouting and developing talent, combined with the emergence of a new generation of Spanish players, suggests that Spain will remain a force in the Davis Cup for years to come. The captain’s focus on both short-term goals and long-term development underscores a strategic approach aimed at sustaining success in the fiercely competitive world of international tennis. The upcoming match against Chile will be a key test, but Ferrer appears confident in his team’s ability to rise to the challenge.
