Carla Suárez
Winning again
What she failed to achieve as a player, Carla Suárez wishes to achieve as captain: lifting the Billie Jean King Cup with Spain. Although aware of the difficulty, she has full confidence in her team: Paula Badosa, Cristina Bucșa, Jéssica Bouzas, Aliona Bolsova and Leyre Romero. "The key is to be very united and committed, to be a family," she says. In addition, with this new responsibility, the former tennis player is beginning to “reconcile” with the racket.
On 3 November 2021, Carla Suárez (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1988) said goodbye to the tennis courts. A decision, she recalls, that was "very firm and well thought out". Perhaps that is why, during this time — in which she has become mother to twins — she has kept her distance from the sport of her life. Something began to change last March, when the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) presented her as the new captain of the national team —supported by Iberia— replacing Anabel Medina. During the press conference, Carla set her sights high: "I want Spain to once again be among the best countries in the world." Just one month later, Spain defeated Brazil and the Czech Republic to secure their place in the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup, which will be held in Shenzhen (China) between 16 and 21 September. "I saw that the girls stayed very calm and competed incredibly well, it would have been difficult to do better," recalls Carla, proud of her players. Lifting the trophy again, a milestone that the team has not achieved since 1998 with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez, is no easy task, but the new captain is confident: "Anyone can win and anyone can be knocked out in the first round. I want to convey to the girls that we can win." First stop: Ukraine.
After some time away from tennis, you were named captain of the national team last March. Did you really feel like getting back into the sport of your life?
Yes. In 2021, I stopped playing and then spent some time commentating on matches on the television. When the federation sent me the proposal, I was excited about the project. I want to be close to tennis and the players again. I'm really enjoying it so far.
On the day of your presentation, you said you wanted to see Spain back among the best teams in the world. How can we make this a reality?
We've already taken the first step, which was to qualify for the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup. Now we have to keep the consistency up as much as possible. Little by little, the girls have to improve and gain confidence. To do that, it's very important for them to help each other. I know it's difficult, but I can see that they are committed and want to be a family, which makes it somewhat easier.
What does it mean to you to captain the team in the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup after so many years competing as a player?
Obviously, it's going to be special for me, but the spotlight is on the players. My goal is to try to help them enjoy themselves on the court and help them perform at their very best. This is no easy task as we don't see each other much during the year. In April, in the Czech Republic, everything went very well. We'll try to repeat that in China.
And is it a different responsibility for you?
Yes, totally different. When you're a player, even though you try to help your teammates, in the end you focus more on yourself. Now, as captain, I have players under my charge and I have to manage their day-to-day, treat them and attend to them all equally. That's the tricky part for the captain, but the girls are making it quite easy for me, they're giving me a lot of confidence. I am very grateful.
“We need to be a team that fights and gives its all until the very end. At the same time, good communication based on honesty is important.”
What identity are you keen to imprint on the team and what values would you like to convey to the players?
Respect, both for ourselves and for our opponents. I would also like us to be very united and committed, to be a family. This is not easy given the schedule they have throughout the year. We need to be a team that fights and gives its all until the very end. At the same time, good communication based on honesty is important. The girls already know that they can talk to me about anything because I will listen to them.
What kind of relationship do you want to establish with the players, being someone who knows what it's like to be there and who has shared a dressing room with some of them?
I want it to be a very close relationship, with plenty of dialogue. Doing things simply and conveying a sense of calm. They know that I've been in their position — many of them have been my teammates — and there is complete trust.
After a dream debut in the Czech Republic, what are the team's expectations for China? Do we have potential winners of Billie Jean King Cup?
Yes, we have a chance. This competition has changed its format — the qualifying rounds are now to three points, whereas before they were to five — and that makes it more unpredictable. We have to take the example of our winning matches against Brazil and the Czech Republic as an example to build a positive mindset, a winning mindset. The key will be to be as united as possible and try to perform at 100% from day one.
Sara Sorribes, who announced in April that she was taking an indefinite break to look after her mental health, will be a big loss for the team. As a former player, do you understand her decision?
Yes, completely. I already knew a little bit about what she was going through. You never expect it to be something so serious, but I understand her perfectly and support her 100%. When she told me in the Czech Republic, there were no objections from the team, and we conveyed that to her. I know she is getting better. We are going to miss her in China because she is a strong pillar for us. I hope she recovers soon because, if she wants to and feels up to it, the team's doors will always be open to her.
“Results in tennis don't come overnight; they require time, effort, sacrifice... A lot of investment, a lot of perseverance, a lot of hard work.”
Four years have passed since you retired. Do you ever miss playing tennis, or do your twins keep you too busy?
No, I don't miss it. Although my twins take up a lot of my time, I still play sports... but not tennis. Getting back to playing regularly is one of my goals for next year. [Interviewer: "It seems as if you're a bit allergic to it."] Exactly, that's true, but it's a process. I'd like to take it up again, not just for myself, but also out of respect for my sport, my post and the girls. Little by little.
If we look at the rankings, we could say that Spanish women's tennis has less talent than in previous eras. What do you believe is the cause for this and how can we reverse it?
It's difficult to attribute it to anything specific. I think that nowadays everything has become more professionalised and, at the same time, there are many more distractions for young people. Tennis demands a lot from a very early age, and that makes it difficult. Times change. The federation is going to try to identify the reasons for this and reverse them so that there are more Spanish players in the Top 100. The girls who are there are going to improve, and we hope that new players will emerge. We will be there to support and encourage them.
As a legend of Spanish tennis and current captain, what message would you send to younger players to get them into your sport?
Be patient. Results in tennis don't come overnight; they require time, effort, sacrifice... A lot of investment, a lot of perseverance, a lot of hard work.’ To those who are just starting out, I would say to keep enjoying it and stay enthusiastic because it's a very beautiful sport and the rewards are great.
Paula Badosa. "She has been out for a few months due to injury, but she has been training for several weeks with no issues, preparing for her return to competition. In China, we will assess how she is doing, but she is a key player for the team because of her experience. She is also vital in terms of rival teams, as Paula is imposing."
Jéssica Bouzas. "She has had a fantastic year, played many excellent matches and taken a step forward, raising her level. She can now compete on equal terms with the world's best. She was the team leader in the Czech Republic and is gaining more and more experience. Her performance in China will be very important."
Cristina Bucșa. "She recently achieved her best result in a Grand Slam, and that gives her confidence going into the singles. But for us, she is a key player in the doubles. She has the ability to adapt to any partner you put her with, and as captain, that gives me a lot of peace of mind."
Aliona Bolsova. "She may be at a slightly lower level because she plays in smaller tournaments, but she is a player who is on the team through her own merits. If anything happens in the singles, I know I can count on her, and I know she has been playing doubles tournaments in case I need to pair her with Cristina. She's ready."
[After the interview, Carla Suárez called up Leyre Romero].
