In an unusual and unprecedented move, Spain announced this week that they would now have a woman coaching their Davis Cup team. Check out the article below that was posted at USA Today:
Spain’s decision to name former tennis pro Gala Leon Garcia as Davis Cup coach didn’t please Toni Nadal, who complained that a woman “doesn’t know men’s tennis because men’s tennis isn’t the same as women’s tennis.”
Leon Garcia replaced Carlos Moya, who resigned after Spain was relegated out of the Davis Cup World Group. (This means the most successful Davis Cup country of this century is in a consolation bracket for 2015). The 40-year-old Leon reached a career high of No. 27 in the WTA rankings before retiring in 2004. She’s Spain’s first female Davis Cup coach and only the fifth for any country.
Toni Nadal, the uncle and coach of Spain’s greatest tennis star Rafael Nadal, didn’t appreciate the import of such an announcement. He told Onda Cero radio:
“It is preferable that (the captain) is someone with a background in the world of men’s tennis. I have nothing against her, I don’t know what her capabilities are, and I hope she does her job well, but in theory she is a person that doesn’t know men’s tennis, because men’s tennis isn’t the same as women’s tennis.“The truth is that the men’s game isn’t the same as the women’s game on the tactical level, not that one is better than the other.”
Nadal also said the appointment could cause problems at “the dressing room” level, echoing the same tired talking point that’s been around for years and is always debunked. (How many Davis Cup strategy sessions are taking place in a steam room?)
Anyway, the differences between the men’s and women’s game haven’t stopped men from being great women’s coaches, so why would they stop a woman from being a great men’s coach?
But Nadal’s statements are even more ridiculous than that. Forget the blatant sexism. The idea that a Davis Cup coach need be concerned with the tactical nuances of men’s tennis is preposterous! This is the Davis Cup. It’s an individual competition for team points. There’s little to no coaching involved. It doesn’t take a tennis genius to know that the two best players go in singles and the best possible doubles combination plays on the middle day. The “coaching” involves praying that Rafa and David Ferrer take part in the competition so you don’t have to rely on Pablo Andjuar, as Spain’s Davis Cup team had to do in its playoff tie.
When Spain won its last Davis Cup in 2011, the “big” decision was playing Nadal and Ferrer in singles and pairing Feliciano Lopez and Verdasco in doubles. Someone who can’t tell the service line from the baseline could have come up with that roster.
So why is Toni all bent out of shape about it? Maybe this quote reveals some more about his feelings.
“It would seem to be more normal if the captain had been someone like Juan Carlos Ferrero, or some ex-player of a certain level, which is what has happened recently.”
Did Toni Nadal want to be consulted on the decision? Did he expect Rafa to have a say? Did he want to hand-pick Ferrero as captain? Did Toni himself want to be captain?
None of that should matter. Complain about Leon Garcia’s lack of tennis bonafides if you want, but not about her gender."
Not that we would agree or disagree with the article, we do find the thought rather intriguing when it comes to ITA tennis. Wonder how a woman do as a coach for a men's Division I team???
Not that we would agree or disagree with the article, we do find the thought rather intriguing when it comes to ITA tennis. Wonder how a woman do as a coach for a men's Division I team???
7 comments:
In regard to the last comment: Humm, What would a DI men's program do with a female coach that had reached #27 in the world. If she can recruit players, organize a schedule, motivate a team, handle a budget, and keep the supporters happy. I'm thinking they would jump at the chance.
Just a question: How many DI men's tennis coaches were ever in the top 100 in the world? I think there is more to coaching than how high a rank the coach ever achieved.
Why not? A female coach worked for Andy Murray, didn't it? Oh! Wait a minute. That DIDN'T work for Murray, did it?
Never mind.
Remember who you are talking about. It is the French!!!! They act more like women any way so it is appropriate they hire a Woman as a coach so she can relate to their emotions.
Ref the 11:09 post.....I recall a women's tennis program a few years back...somewhere in Florida I think....that had a highly ranked former pro woman coaching it. As I recall, they didn't do all that well. But I do recall Big Bill coding her sorry butt when she gave him an obscene gesture during a match. As memory serves, she stayed at the other end of the venue for the rest of the day.
Just because you were a semi-great player on the pro tour, does not equate to being a great coach. I could see a female coach for a Men's D1 college team since they probably aren't ready for the big league yet. But the tactics between Men's and Women's games are dramatically different. The Men actually have to think and use their brains strategizing during play. the Women just hit the crap out of the ball and let out obnoxious screams in the process. Absolutely no comparison.
It's almost the same as officiating. Yes, some Women may be able to effectively officiate Men's D1 matches, but they are few and far in between....
If a woman can save your life, then hell yes she can coach a freaking D1. Get real guys and get over yourself.
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