Carla Suárez: "Spain Will Win the BJKC Sooner Rather Than Later"

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Carla Suárez is a happy and extremely satisfied woman. The responsibility of forming a team to compete against Slovenia was in her hands, a challenge that was completely overcome. The Billie Jean King Cup brings excitement once again.

Imagine facing a decisive Billie Jean King Cup tie without your three best players. Imagine traveling to Slovenia without any top 100 players on the team. Spain's situation in Portoroz was not easy, but the team led by Carla Suárez (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1988) did not shrink. On the contrary, they excelled. With Kaitlin Quevedo as a leader and an experienced doubles pair, they found the winning formula to secure a spot in the final stage in Shenzen. Reflecting on the recent success, the enthusiastic canary speaks to Punto de Break at the Conde de Godó to analyze the performance of her team.

How would you title what happened last weekend?

In one word? Spectacular. It was impressive, everything happened to us, with a team of different profiles, but the bet paid off. There are always doubts about whether to choose one or another, to play one or another, but the puzzle finally came together.

Did you hesitate with the team selection?

I wasn't sure until almost the week before; we had many possible combinations. When Cristina (Bucsa) told me she couldn't go, I thought a lot about Andrea Lázaro, but now the format has changed, and the doubles are a key point. So, I thought that by bringing Aliona and pairing her with Sara, that point had to be played. The rest of the players covered Andrea's spot, but yes, we thought about it until the last moment.

Was it challenging to convince Aliona?

It was very easy; she quickly said yes. She made a great effort to connect with Sara, both in terms of tennis and language communication. They did a great job, and that was reflected in the result.

The team plays with Kaitlin and Leyre in singles, two debutants. It was a risky strategy.

Absolutely, whenever someone debuts, there are two possibilities. It can go well due to not feeling that pressure and not having an excess of responsibility. Conversely, they could receive a lot of attention in a new competition for them and things could go wrong. My job is to give them confidence and help them as much as possible. I always say that at some point, everyone has to debut, even though in this case, many debuts occurred due to certain circumstances.

How did Sara take her secondary role?

I spoke with her and told her she wouldn't play on the first day, although she was eager to. Looking at her career, whenever she has been called up, she usually plays a singles match, but I reassured her, telling her to be ready for the doubles. She took it better then, Sara is a team player and understands that decisions are always made with the team's best interests in mind.

At what point do you communicate the playing order to the team?

Each captain can choose; I prefer to tell them on the first or second day after arriving, before watching them train. For example, this time I informed them on Monday night, especially if there's a debut player, it's better to know early to start preparing mentally. If the training sessions are bad because of nervousness, at least they have experienced it before the competition. If you tell them on Thursday and they play on Friday, they might not be adequately prepared.

And for those who don't play?

The same goes for them; I tell them they won't play on the first day but to be prepared because anything can happen on the second day. Guiomar was the one disadvantaged here as she didn't play any match, but I talked to her to explain the circumstances. She accepted it without any complaints, trained really well, and cheered on the team enthusiastically. Having such people in the team is fundamental for a captain.

What vibe did you go to sleep with on Friday with the score tied at 1-1?

A good feeling, Kaitlin played well, and Leyre struggled a bit, but only in the second set. I went to bed with a feeling that the doubles could put us ahead again and that this would help Kaitlin play a bit more relaxed. That's exactly what happened; the important thing was to win three points.

If the tie had gone to a fifth rubber... would Leyre play or Sara?

I had discussed with the team on Friday night and said that if it was a potential 2-2, Sara would play the fifth match in that case. I talked to Leyre, and she accepted it very well; she understands that these are team matters.

There was a lot of excitement evident from all on screen.

I'm fortunate in that regard; the young players are responding very well and have the desire to win the competition. The initial goal was to qualify first, but the ultimate goal is to win the title. I truly believe that Spain has a team capable of becoming champions sooner rather than later.

Now it's up to you to build the team for September.

There are three months ahead; I have to speak with each one and see how each is progressing, from Paula (Badosa) to the top ten national players. I will make a decision considering the best for the team, although we must keep in mind that in Shenzen, we will be playing on indoor fast courts. We'll give our 100% with what we have, but it poses an interesting challenge to assemble the team. On one hand, I have players who haven't participated yet, but I also have the players who stood up for the team in this tie.

By the way, how is Bucsa doing with her injury?

It's not severe; the recovery is going well. Hopefully, she can return in Madrid.

And with Paula and Jessica, can we count on them?

That's my goal, to call up the best players to aim for the title; it's essential that they feel like a family. This is crucial for success; I still have some pending matters, but I emphasize that Spain has the potential to be crowned champion, especially with the three-point format awaiting us in China. However, I need the players' commitment.

Can the BJKC be won without your best player?

I believe so.

And without the two best players?

It's difficult, but I want to believe that it's possible.

Without the top three players?

Well... (laughs) I don't know about China, but it happened here, and also in 2025. It definitely makes everything harder, but I want to believe that those who go have the necessary level to achieve it.

What is it about this competition that the rankings are never decisive?

There are players who love playing in team competitions, but this situation rarely occurs during the year. Some players manage having a team of 20 people cheering for them at each point very well. Then there are others who can't handle the pressure of representing their country, of playing as part of a team. Many factors come into play, which is why we see so many intense matches, with players putting on their national colors and transforming.

Is the competitive spirit for the BJKC innate or can it be developed?

You have to have it within, but you also develop it through experiences. There are players who are more about the team and others who play as a team but still focus on their individual performance. That's where the mistake lies. If you enjoy team competitions and gain experience managing nerves and the extra attention, I think you end up enjoying this competition.

Did that happen to you?

Over time, I gained that experience; in the end, I enjoyed it and ended up really enjoying those weeks.

Any epic fifth rubber that comes to mind?

(Thinking) The format was different before; the decisive point was in the doubles, but I remember a tie in Belgium with a 2-2 score where I won both my singles matches, and Garbiñe lost hers. We had to play the doubles together and we won. It's tough; those moments are extremely tense.

Do you miss it? Not even in this competition?

No, not at all. Firstly, because I can't, but I've had very positive experiences both last year and this year. I haven't thought about it in any tie, although I've been a captain for a short time. I don't know; maybe I trust my players a lot (laughs).

Let's say that the fifth rubber should always be played by the captains.

I would struggle; I'm not physically ready to play, so I'd pass (laughs). But well, our Davis Cup captain (David Ferrer) would definitely be ready to step onto the court.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Carla Suárez: “España volverá a ganar la BJKC más pronto que tarde”