Spain have chosen the man who will lead their national tennis team into a new era, with Carlos Alcaraz and rising prospect Rafael Jódar among the players expected to shape the country's future. The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) has appointed a former Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist as its next captain, with the new role beginning in January 2027.
The appointment comes as David Ferrer prepares to leave the position at the end of 2026. Ferrer has led Spain through the recent Davis Cup campaigns, but the federation has now settled on his successor for the next three seasons, through 2029. The new captain will take charge of a team carrying considerable expectations, given Spain's depth of talent and its ambitions in international competition.
The incoming captain brings extensive experience from his own playing career, including a Grand Slam doubles title, an ATP Finals crown and an Olympic gold medal won alongside Rafael Nadal at the Rio 2016 Games. He also reached No. 3 in the doubles rankings and represented Spain in 13 Davis Cup ties, giving him a long history with the national team he is now preparing to lead.
He is currently serving as Ferrer's assistant, a role he has held since Spain's 2025 Davis Cup qualifier against Denmark in Marbella. Before officially taking over, he will remain part of Spain's staff for the 2026 Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, scheduled for November 24–29.
Spain appoint Nadal's Olympic gold medal partner
Marc López, 44, will become Spain's captain on January 1, 2027, after the RFET's board of directors confirmed the appointment on Monday. The Barcelona-born former doubles specialist retired from professional tennis in May 2022 and is regarded as one of the most accomplished Spanish doubles players of his generation.
López's career reached its peak in 2016. He won the French Open doubles title alongside Feliciano López before joining forces with Nadal to claim Olympic gold in men's doubles at Rio de Janeiro. The victory added an Olympic medal to a career that had already included success at the highest levels of professional tennis.
His other major achievements include winning the 2012 ATP Finals doubles title with Marcel Granollers. They became only the second Spanish pairing to win the year-end championship, following Manuel Orantes and Juan Gisbert in 1975. López also reached three additional Grand Slam doubles finals: the French Open and US Open in 2014 with Granollers, and the US Open in 2017 with Feliciano López.
His experience extends beyond the doubles circuit. López made his Davis Cup debut for Spain in 2012 and went on to compete in 13 ties, including the final in the competition's centenary year.
🆕 La Junta Directiva de la RFET ha decidido nombrar a Marc López como nuevo capitán de #CopaDavis a partir del 1 de enero de 2027. El barcelonés dirigirá al equipo hasta 2029 en sustitución de David Ferrer, que dejará el cargo a finales de este año 📲 https://t.co/JPKYsTjlIH https://t.co/QkIgj5Rbo8
— Tenis España (@RFETenis) October 19, 2026
A new chapter for Alcaraz and Spanish tennis
López will inherit a team whose ambitions are closely tied to the performances of Alcaraz, one of the leading figures in men's tennis, alongside a new generation of Spanish players. Jódar is among the prospects attracting attention after his rapid rise on the ATP Tour. The challenge will be to combine established stars with emerging talent while maintaining Spain's competitiveness in the Davis Cup.
Spain's top 100 players
| Player | Ranking | Age |
| Carlos Alcaraz | No. 3 | 23 |
| Rafael Jodar | No. 11 | 20 |
| Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | No. 14 | 27 |
| Daniel Merida | No. 42 | 22 |
| Jaume Munar | No. 64 | 29 |
| Martin Landaluce | No. 65 | 20 |
| Pablo Carreño Busta | No. 73 | 35 |
| Marcel Granollers | No. 6 (doubles) | 40 |
The new captain will have three seasons to establish his approach, beginning in 2027 and running through 2029. His appointment also offers continuity: having worked alongside Ferrer during the current Davis Cup cycle, López will already understand the team's environment and the responsibilities involved in managing Spain's leading players.
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It seems like a logical choice for the Spanish team as it looks to maintain continuity with the project Ferrer has led in recent years. López has been the former world No. 3's right-hand man on the Spanish team and also worked with Nadal during the final years of the 22-time Grand Slam champion's career.
Spanish tennis is going through a strong period, particularly following the all-Spanish final at the Shanghai Masters, where Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Rafael Jódar to claim his first Masters 1000 title. Spain now has three players inside the top 15, making it one of the strongest teams in the Davis Cup, especially considering that several of its players are still young and could have long careers ahead of them.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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