The Spanish Tennis Federation said in a statement that it has chosen not to renew the contract of captain Alex Corretja after just two years at the helm. Some members of the Spanish media are reporting that former world No. 1 former Carlos Moya will take over as Davis Cup captain.
Another former No. 1, Juan Carlos Ferrero, was also considered for the job.
A two-time Roland Garros finalist and former president of the ATP Players Council, Corretja told El Mundo Deportivo that he was upset by the decision.
Last month, Spain swept Ukraine, 5-0, in its World Group Playoff tie in Madrid.
Corretja recently met with Spanish Federation President José Luis Escañuela, technical director—and former Davis Cup captain—Albert Costa, and selections coordinator Pere Hernandez. He was told that his contract would not be renewed when it ended December 31.
"They didn’t give me reasons why I wasn’t renewed or told me who the new captain would be,” Corretja told reporters. “Two months ago Albert Costa said he thought I should continue. I do not know what has changed since then, because we have even won the playoff. During the meeting he said the decision was the president’s.”
Corretja added that he and Escañuela have joked around together but they have had "disagreements athletically from day one.”
Spain has won five titles since 1999, the last coming in 2011 with Costa as the captain. Last year, Corretja led Spain to the final, where it lost to the host Czech Republic, 3-2. However, top Spaniard Rafael Nadal was injured and couldn’t contest the tie.
This year, Spain lost its opening rubber against host Canada, 3-2. Spain played that tie without Nadal, who was still injured, and No. 2 player David Ferrer, who wanted to take a tie off in order to preserve his body for the rest of the season.
Nadal returned last month, scoring a singles win and partnering Marc Lopez to win the doubles point in leading Spain to its sweep of Ukraine. Spain will travel to Germany for the first tie of their 2014 campaign.
“My relationship with the players is excellent," Corretja said. "I do not wear mask. I have always been very caring and all decisions I made, I was thinking what was best for the team. I had to call up 10 different players in six ties, which I think is a record for our country.”
Corretja claimed that “lies and atrocities” were leaked to the press, referring to a claim that he banned some coaches from sitting on Spain’s bench.
“It's the Federation’s right not to renew me, but I think it should stop the slandering and I believe personally and athletically they should say [the so-called lies] are not true," said Corretja, who previously coached Andy Murray.