Davis Cup 2022 | Did you know? The Olympic medalist who picks up the racket to help Romania

Romania is not experiencing its best moment in men’s tennis, being a powerhouse in women’s with big names like the two-time winner of a Grand Slam title, Simona Halep. In the tie against Spain they have Marius Copil, currently out of the top-200, as their main asset in the singles and it is very difficult for them to face the Alcaraz, Bautista and the rest of the members of the Navy who will seek the pass to the final phase of the Davis Cup in Marbella.

For this tough battle ahead of the team led by Gabriel Trifu, it has recovered one of its flagships in recent years, Horia Tecau, the only one who knows what it means to score a point in a tie against Spain. He was the only one that the Romanians managed in Cluj-Napoca in 2016 in the doubles, in a weekend in which the Navy closed with a clear 1-4 away.

Tecau decided that the 2021 was going to be his last season as a professional, in a career that adorns 38 doubles titles, reaching the number two position in the world ranking in pairs, alternating various travel companions throughout the different seasons. Among his greatest achievements, the Grand Slam trophies at Wimbledon and the US Open alongside Dutchman Jean-Julien Rojer, an ATP Finals and the silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where in an unforgettable final, he fought alongside to Florin Mergea against the duo formed by Rafa Nadal and Marc López, in the second gold of the Balearic Islands, after winning in singles in Beijing 2008.

At 37 years old, it will be his last appearance as a professional on a tennis court, where he will partner with Nicolae Frunza to find the point in the match that will face Alejandro Davidovich and Pedro Martínez, a duel that will open the day on Saturday. Before, Roberto Bautista will play his match against Gabi Adrian Boitan on Friday and Carlos Alcaraz will do the same against Marius Copil.