Inside Team Spain: Captain Roig Talks Nadal’s ‘Tsunami’ Entrance

Ahead of Spain’s second tie at the ATP Cup on Monday against Uruguay, team captain Francisco Roig shared his thoughts on leading the term in Perth and the unique aspects of this event.

Here is a quick summary of my first experience as an ATP Cup captain. For various reasons, it is a new and different situation that none of us had experienced before.

First of all, we are practically in a group on the court. It’s unusual because we sit there in the Team Zone and you talk with one player, then another gives their point of view. It’s not like in Davis Cup, where it’s only the captain giving advice. We are all much closer and more involved with the players here. It’s different because there is a lot more communication with the player’s coach, who sits by your side and talks directly with his player, as was the case on Saturday for Pepe Vendrell with Roberto Bautista Agut.

I’m convinced that at a certain point, you can help the player with what you convey during the rest periods. You can calm them down, without a doubt. From the outside, you can see everything better and find details that the player doesn’t see. They like to feel that they have people and support around them… That alone is a bonus.

Of course, you have to be clear when the player arrives so that you don’t confuse them. A quick anecdote: When Rafa arrives, the energy is incredible and the floor is practically shaking. You can feel his arrival… It’s like a tsunami is coming. It’s true that he then talks a lot, explains and asks questions.

In addition, you can give instructions between points if you want. We also have the option of having all the statistics in real time on the tablet in the Team Zone. You have to try and know how to read them well so that it becomes an important asset.

Against Georgia, Rafa Maymo, the other physio for Rafa, changed jobs and sat with the tablet to keep an eye on the statistics. He did a good job. I think we’ll keep him in that position. We monitored a few things and let him know. That was another new experience.

Finally, we also have Video Review here. I think that it will be used a lot for certain situations and you can also clearly see whether there is an impact.

Tennis is a sport that has evolved slightly and all these innovations are a good thing for all of us that are involved. We’re enjoying the ATP Cup.