In the preamble to this Billie Jean King Cup it was said that Spain missed those moments when Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez pulled the car and guided it to victory. We look back with nostalgia on this recent past and now, with the fate of the team already resolved in this latest edition, even more so. The desire grows. We have resisted bingo for 26 years, since Canada certified this Thursday the elimination of the Spaniards in the series against Poland, …

In the preamble to this Billie Jean King Cup it was said that Spain missed those moments when Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Conchita Martínez pulled the car and guided it to victory. We look back with nostalgia on this recent past and now, with the fate of the team already resolved in this latest edition, even more so. The desire grows. Bingo has been holding out for 26 years, ever since Canada on Thursday certified the elimination of the Spaniards in the series against Poland, so that Friday’s fight against the Central Europeans (not before 4:00 p.m., Teledeporte and RTVE Play) becomes a procedural uncomfortable. Anabel Medina’s players will go to the La Cartuja field knowing that they no longer have any options and that the host will not appear on the poster for the semi-finals this Saturday.

This early and cold goodbye hurts, in substance and in form. Spain, which had not hosted the epilogue of the competition since 2008, failed to win a set in Wednesday’s contest against the Canadians and found itself in a terminal situation, with only the last point remaining. A miracle that, frankly, we didn’t expect either. After an unpleasant journey through the desert to return to the World Group in 2019, the three subsequent interventions – the 2020 edition was canceled due to the coronavirus – raise questions and highlight an obvious deficit. Spanish women’s tennis today enjoys good health and an honorable middle class, but it requires references. Whatever their quality, neither Garbiñe Muguruza nor Paula Badosa have ever reached it, or at least not to a sufficient level.

The first, the undisputed standard of the most modern era, barely played six series – balance of 10-4, between singles and doubles – and its contribution made it possible to get out of the mud, but nothing more. The second, for its part, does not find any correspondence with his will. Despite her efforts to be present at this event, she did not participate in the opening competition against Canada – “not being ready yet,” in the words of the captain” – and last year, she made a mistake when she had the chance. to seal the pass for the semi-finals against Great Britain in Glasgow. The Catalan – two series, 2-1 record – lost this inopportune evening against Harriet Dart, a semi-unknown who was then ranked 98th in the world. The contribution of both was therefore rather discreet.

The records of both contrast with those of immense references like Sánchez Vicario (58 qualifying rounds, 72 victories and 28 defeats) or Conchita Martínez (53/68-23), and even with those of second line representatives like Carmen Perea ( 29/19-24) and Virginia Ruano (29/15-17), or praetorians like Anabel Medina herself (21/18-16), Carla Suárez (17/19-12), Nuria Llagostera (16/13 -10) or Magüi Serna (13/10-10).

The current coach, in office since October 2017, tested different profiles and revitalized a weak team, but did not find the turn of the screw necessary for Spain to be truly competitive in the final stages. The gradual disappearance of Muguruza from the roster – her last participation was four years ago – and the physical setbacks of Badosa – the latter and that of 2021, when she reached the home stretch of the season and gave priority to the Masters Cup – have significantly reduced the possibilities. The weight fell on the secondary teams (Párrizas, Bolsova, Arruabarrena…), who showed commitment and appetite, but not enough strength to refute the other powers face to face.

On this occasion, Sorribes (50th in the world) served as the first card, but in a circumstantial present. “I consider it anecdotal,” admitted the Valencian in September, when she became the first Spanish asset. “That’s tennis,” he lamented on Wednesday, when Canada had already achieved an emphatic 3-0. “Sport is sometimes like that, a little cruel,” said Medina, aware that his team had the noose around their necks and resigned to the countdown. The farewell to Spain was confirmed this Thursday, and the management and technical team are starting to reformulate it. The base is good and on the circuit – four representatives among the top-50 and the Top 100– They leave marks, but there is no muscle. Young people like Marina Bassols (110th) or Jessica Bouzas (152nd) are participating, but success in a tournament with these characteristics requires a qualitative leap which, after more than a quarter of a century, is long overdue.

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