Guillermo Coria and anger over the Davis Cup: “I would never criticize a captain or a colleague for a result, it would be unethical”

There is still plenty of time left for the series that Argentina will play in September at home against Lithuania for the Davis Cup World Group I playoffs. Seven months in which many things can happen, especially in a sport of moments and streaks like tennis. But Guillermo Coria He already has his head focused on that duel, in which his team will seek a very important victory, to avoid going down to the American zone of the competition. Still sore from the defeat a few weeks ago against Finland in Espoo, for the Qualifiers for the 2023 Finals, but already thinking about the future, the captain of the Albiceleste team sat down to chat with clarion in a corner of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis, in the middle of the Argentina Open. And anticipated: “We are favourites, but we have to be careful, because we are at stake for something important. This series is very heavy. We hope to win it”.

-It may seem like an obvious question, but how important was being local to you against Lithuania?

-It was essential to play at home and impose the conditions. Playing away is one thing, playing at home is another. Last year’s series against the Czech Republic (Editor’s note: it was a 4-0 win on BALTC clay) could have been very different if we had played as guests. Though you also need to know how to handle the pressure of being local, with all the people. We’ll have to work on that with the players so they can absorb well.

-Have you already started studying your rival and talking to the Argentinian players?

-I’ve already seen several games of Lithuanian players. They have a player with a lot of experience (Ricardas Berankis) who has had a few losses in Davis and even if he is not at his best, he can put you in danger if you are not well. Two other players who are just coming out of the juniors and for this reason have no ranking, but who play tennis and clay well. One, he trains with Guillermo García López, who is a very good player on slow pitches. Don’t underestimate anyone, we are not relaxed at all. As for the Argentines, everyone was waiting for the draw and now they are focused on this tour, which is always a special time of the year. There will be time to talk to them and their coaches. I like to wait when we already have information to give them: where the game will be played, what idea we have, the surface, etc. In the coming months we will be in constant contact with them and their technical staff and we will keep an eye on how they are, if there are any injuries, how their calendars are. And always support them.

-How much did the defeat against Finland hurt you?

-He scolded us. We knew we had many disadvantages, the date, the field, rival players who were in great moments -Ruusuvuori, I think, it won’t take long to get into the top 20 or 15-. We knew anything could happen. Our preparation was spectacular, everyone did their best, we talked a lot with the players, the boys adapted very well to the surface and we were convinced that this was our best team. But they adapted better to the conditions and beat us well.

-Did some criticism that appeared after the defeat hurt you?

-Obviously. Attention, I’m counting on the judiciously critical journalist: we have lost and we have analyzed it. And I’m glad they criticize me and don’t take it out on the players, because I always love them. I was a player, also Leo Mayer and Tero (Martín) García. We all played Davis Cup, Leo was even champion; so we understand the moments and situations. But there are critiques where the personal and the political mix with the objective. I would never criticize a captain or colleague for an achievement; it would not be ethical.

Did that series leave you with something positive?

-The union, responsibility and commitment of the players. What has been done is to be greatly appreciated and I will be very grateful for the effort they have had. I’m proud of them and told them so one of the first nights there. They put a lot aside to be there, frozen dead, far away, knowing that what happened to Fran (Cerúndolo, who came back wounded) could happen. Fran didn’t arrive physically well in Córdoba, Pedrito had a hard time adapting to the surface of that tournament, we went from 16 degrees below zero on Monday to 40 on Tuesday, the doubles guys escaped on day one and ended up winning the tournament cost Facu there and here, in Buenos Aires… What they did is greatly appreciated and I will be very grateful for their commitment. We left wounded, but embraced and with our heads held high. And no one blamed themselves. I hope we will take revenge.

Of the past and the future​

Coria made his debut as Davis Cup captain in February last year, with a victory against the Czechs in qualifying for the 2022 finals. Since that party, he has had four crashes in a row: the three in the group stage at Bologna, in September ( 2-1 with Sweden and Italy and 3-0 with Croatia) and the one a few weeks ago against Finland. When he takes stock, the Magician acknowledges that the numbers aren’t good, but tries to focus on the process.

“I don’t like losing, so there are more negatives than positives. We’ve had five very difficult series and we’re just in a moment of transition, with players taking their first steps in the competition. We went to Italy with a very competitive team , with the best Argentine players of the moment and we lost. The matches we lost, they beat us well. The opponents were better and I take responsibility. I am the first responsible because I am the boss, I would never blame any player,” he analyzed.

And he added: “Except for several things. Of the 88 players who have represented Argentina in history, four made their debut with us; and they did so as protagonists, not with the already defined series. Who played again Very (Andrés Molteni) after almost seven years (Editor’s note: He had only played one series in 2017). That Fede Delbonis was available to return to play after being champion in 2016. That there was a lot of contact and dialogue with the players… I said it from the beginning, I want to leave something to the players when I leave, I don’t want to leave without leaving anything. And leave the next captain a team with many trained players, with more experience and more series at the top, so that this process can continue. I have no doubt that these guys will bring us much joy.”

-Why is it so difficult for Argentina to maintain regularity after the 2016 title?

-It’s moments. How every player comes to the series, whether he has to play at home or away… There are many things that need to be evaluated, I don’t think it’s for anything specific. I always repeat that Argentina has only won the Davis Cup once. And then it went downhill. It’s not easy, it has been proven. We Argentines are very successful and we always want to win and be protagonists. But we have to understand the moments and accompany the players. with Leo, uterus and the entire Argentine Tennis Association, we are working so that we do not load these players with backpacks that have been carried to others before, so that they can go and play free and happy.

-Will you continue to lead the team after September?

-We will play and then we will see, because it will be two years of my administration. We will evaluate everything, us, the management and also the players, because they are important and they too must be listened to. We are all here to collaborate, contribute and give our best. The desire to continue is there. We hope to win in September so that we can analyze everything calmly afterwards.​

-How do you see Davis’ future after the break between ITF and Kosmos?

-It was surprising, even though they had talked about things that weren’t right… Now we don’t know what we’re going to play for or what we’re going to play next year. I think we should find a format that works for everyone, for the federations, for the people -because it’s useless to play at home if nobody goes- and also for the players. Today there is a new group of players who have not yet won the Davis Cup and will definitely want to, like Alcaraz. But the thing is, when those players start winning on the circuit, they put that competition aside. For the tournament, redistributing the points would add a lot. I think the old format didn’t work anymore, a change was needed. The new one didn’t work at all. Our experience in Italy last year was not good. Hopefully a format that works for everyone can be found and the best players from each country will play against Davis again. It would be spectacular.