Moya gives up Spain captaincy after Davis Cup exit

Moya gives up Spain captaincy after Davis Cup exit

MADRID - Former world number one Carlos Moya said Thursday he will not renew his captaincy of Spain's Davis Cup team next year after the five-time champions lost their World Group elite status.

Spain's Carlos Moya serves the ball to Australia's Mark Philippoussis during the Statoil Masters Tennis in London, December 7, 2012

"I do not know what the tennis federation has planned, but my head is telling me not to continue," Moya was quoted as saying in an interview published by newspaper El Pais.

He said he had signed up as captain just for 2014 and would not renew for 2015.

Spain's 18-year stay in the World Group came to an end when they were defeated 3-1 by Brazil in Sao Paulo in the play-offs on Sunday.

Playing without injured world number two Rafael Nadal and his fellow top 10 player David Ferrer, Spain lost their first tie on clay since 1999.

Moya voiced disappointment at the unavailability of players for the squad, despite Spain having 12 players ranked in the world top 100.

"It all got difficult with Rafa's injury... but I could not have imagined that out of all the other top-100 Spanish players, due to injuries, scheduling or lack of motivation, I could only count on (Marcel) Granollers and (Roberto) Bautista," Moya told El Pais.

"It was not what I expected, especially since the team was on the verge of going down to the second division."

Spain won the Davis Cup in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011 and were runners-up in 2003 and 2012.

Moya, 38, in 1999 became the first Spanish player to reach the world number one ranking.

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