MADRID, 17 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia presented itself this Wednesday as the venue for the group stage of the 2023 Davis Cup Finals with the desire to remain “fixed” and also to fight for the “objective” of hosting the final phase of the team competition.
The capital of Turia will host Group C in La Fonteta between September 12 and 17, where Spain will be framed with Serbia, the Czech Republic and South Korea. During this act, the match schedule was also revealed, with the Spanish team debuting on Wednesday the 13th against the Czechs and then playing against the Serbs on the 15th and on the 17th against the South Koreans. Serbia and Korea will open a competition on the 12th whose final phase will be in Malaga in November.
The president of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, celebrated that tennis is a “fundamental part” of the Valencian Community, which 55 years ago enjoyed the Davis Cup “for the first time”. “Now we will host it for the tenth time and we are going to strengthen in a special way that alliance between tennis and the community,” he declared.
The leader stressed the “181 clubs, 900 courts and 6,800 federations” that exist in the region and the role of schools that “import talent” as is the case of the current world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, “Murcia, but Valencian in their formation”.
“We would like to be a permanent venue, but the objective now is to reach the final phase. We will not stop until we achieve it and we will fight for it. We promise the enthusiasm and dedication of the public to drive Spain to the conquest of the seventh ‘Salad Bowl'”, he confirmed .
Puig did not forget “the social return in values” that brings a competition that “incarnates an emotional energy” and the “economic return” as evidenced last year when it already hosted one of the four groups, being “the most massive venue with 41,000 spectators” and with a “final impact that multiplied the investment by six”.
For his part, the mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, confessed how “beautiful and pleasant it is to talk about sport” and pointed out that “talking about Davis is talking about an opportunity to see the best rackets in the world and that the boys and girls can get closer to their referents”.
The mayor stressed that they are “a city passionate about sport, the elite and the most popular” and that it offers a “great solvency to host the most important sporting events in the world.” “We are going to respond to the effort on the track with constant support and unmatched city pride,” he said.
Toni Gaspar, president of the Valencia Provincial Council, highlighted that the community has “a passionate way of understanding life that is perfect for bringing sporting emotion” and expressed his satisfaction that the city continues to be “the home of the wonderful tennis family world”.
After recalling the iconic image from Woody Allen’s movie ‘Match Point’, the leader made it clear that they have spent years preparing and psyching themselves up so that “the ball keeps moving forward, but not by chance but by collective work and by way of to be like a people”. “We think and do, dream and work with passion and creativity,” he said.
In addition, on behalf of the ITF, organizer of the Davis Cup, was its CEO, Kelly Fairweahter, who assured that they are “delighted” to return to Valencia, which “offered a spectacular event for tennis players” in 2022 where “there was a fantastic tennis” and where Canada came from, which was later proclaimed champion. The manager also indicated that the competition is “unique and wonderful” and that it “continues to grow and expand”, remarking that in it “players compete for something bigger than themselves”.
DAVID FERRER: “WE HAVE ENOUGH TEAM TO QUALIFY”
Miguel Díaz, president of the RFET, and David Ferrer and Anabel Medina, captains of the Davis Cup and Federation Cup teams also participated. The president admitted “the tremendous difficulty” of winning this competition, but he is hopeful of having “a magnificent team” and the “support of the public.”
“The greatest emotions of my career have been playing Davis. My last game was in 2018 in Valencia and my debut as captain will be in Valencia,” said Ferrer, who emphasized “the passion with which sport in general is lived in the Valencian Community” and that in the city, which experienced “a great atmosphere” in 2022, has “accommodation, facilities and gastronomy”. “I think it’s hard to have a place as special as Valencia,” he said.
Facing the group stage, the tennis player does not forget that “there are still months ahead” and that they will not face “an easy group”. “But we have enough equipment to be able to qualify. I am confident that we will have good qualifying rounds and that those who come will be able to accept the challenge of playing at home and defending their country,” he said.
Finally, Anabel Medina stressed “the great pride” and “responsibility” that comes with playing for your country, something that was “key” during her sports career because “it was very nice not to play just for yourself.” “As captain I still feel that pride and responsibility,” she considered.
“The Valencian Community and Valencia are the history of tennis, for many years through the clubs and with tennis players who are history. The community and Valencia love tennis and Valencia is the showcase of a city that has been chosen several times as the best place in the world to live”, concluded the Valencian.