Spanish tennis star Feliciano Lopez, is getting ready to his 20th season on the ATP Tour next year, talked about his role as Director of the Madrid Mutua Open, his best memory of the Spanish triumph in the 2019 Davis Cup, the format of the Davis Cup and the new generation of tennis in an interview to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The former world number 12 player scored a double at the 2019 Queen’s Club Championships with a three-set win over Gilles Simon in the singles final and a Match Tie-break win in the doubles final alongside Andy Murray over Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.
Lopez is the director of the Madrid Mutua Open, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It has a very bad year because of the pandemic, but we have to accept reality. The vast majority of tournaments have been cancelled. It was very sad to have to announce the suspension of the Mutua Madrid Open, but we had no other options. This year it has not only been bad for tennis, but everyone. As a tournament director I have had the opportunity to see the economic consequences that this pandemic can cause. I am aware that tournaments need the help of sponsors. Government are spending everything to help those who have the most difficulties”.
Lopez won the Davis Cup title in November 2019 with the Spanish team at the Caja Magica in Madrid. He looked back to his past memory of the Spanish title in front of the home fans. Lopez and Rafael Nadal won the decisive doubles match 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (8-6) to power Spain past Great Britain into the Davis Cup final.
“That triumph was very special for me and all of us. I felt very honoured to be in the team at 38 years old and to be able my teammates in winning the title. Besides doing it in Madrid in a venue that I know very well. Besides, days before we lived a very sad and difficult situation to accept, such as the death of Bautista Agut’s father. It was incredible how he returned how he returned after the funeral and still went on to play the final and get the victory against Auger Aliassime”.
Lopez does not think that the new format with matches to the best of three sets has reduced the value of the Davis Cup organised by Gerard Piqué’s Kosmos.
“I firmly believe in this new format. When they made the announcement I thought it was the best they could do. I think the Davis Cup needed the matches to be the best of three sets. Obviously there are things that can be improved and I am sure they are working on them. I still think that last edition was a great success and I hope this format will contnue for many many years”.
Lopez predicts a great future for Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who could become the stars of the ATP Tour in the years to come.
“I have seen Sinner many times and I think he is a player with tremendous potential. It is incredible that he has that level of tennis for the age he is. I think he will be one of the greatest tennis players of the next generation. Carlos Alcaraz has also had a spectacula year. He trains at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy. I think they will representing their respective team in the Davis Cup”.
Lopez lost to Nadal 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in his final match of the 2020 season at the Paris Bercy Masters 1000 tournament, but he showed that he is still very competitive after a very long career. Lopez was asked if he is planning to play with Nadal in the doubles tournament at next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. “We do not have a schedule for next season. We are trying to focus on playing as much as possible”.
