Tony Nadal, the uncle and coach of Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, has caused controversy in Spain by questioning the decision of the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) to name Gala Leon as the captain of the David Cup team.

Gala Leon becomes the first woman captain in the Davis Cup after she was named as the replacement for Carlos Moya, who stepped down after Spain's recent defeat to Brazil saw them relegated to the second tier of the competition, where Spain has enjoyed huge success in recent years.

Gala Leon had been named Sporting Director by the RFET in July this year and her promotion to replace Moya is in many ways a natural progression, although speaking on Spanish national radio, Nadal did not share that opinion.

"It surprises me for several reasons. First of all because she is someone we don't know on the men's tennis circuit and it is a problem for her to not have the knowledge of how they play on that tour. I don't think she really knows the players, at least she doesn't know Rafa," he commented, before adding: "there is a logistical problem that is difficult to resolve, because in the Davis Cup you spend a lot of time with the teams in the dressing room and a woman shouldn't be a stranger to those she is managing."

"For a Davis Cup team to be captained by a woman... don't get me wrong, because I have nothing against a woman coaching a player," commented Nadal.

Rafa's coach added that it was surprising that Gala Leon had been named so quickly after Spain's relegation to the second division given that there are around 8 months until the next Davis Cup tie,

"Normally before someone was named the President of the Federation used to advise the players to find out if they agreed or not and that was not the case this time," he said.

Meanwhile Gala Leon's appointment was welcomed elsewhere with Andy Murray 'tweeting'

"Congrats to Gala Leon Garcia for becoming first female Spanish Davis cup captain today... hopefully first of many... is that a first across all countries in the 114 year history of the competition?" Endi

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