"Would I be OK peeing in front of a woman? No way" - When Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni defended 'old-fashioned' take on Spain's female Davis Cup captain

Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni once courted controversy with his seemingly outdated views on Spain's first female Davis Cup captain. Toni argued that sharing the locker room with a woman would be uncomfortable for the players.

In 2014, after Carlos Moya stepped down from the post, Gala Leon Garcia was announced as the first female captain of Spain's Davis Cup team. The then-40-year-old had retired from professional tennis in 2004, having achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 27 and clinched one WTA singles title.

While Andy Murray voiced his support for the move, Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni outlined his concerns about the decision. In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Toni emphasized the potential challenge of having a female captain in the locker room, explaining that he wouldn't feel comfortable using the bathroom in Garcia's presence.

Although the Spaniard acknowledged that his views could come across as "old-fashioned," he pushed back against the notion that he was sexist.

"In no way am I sexist. You could brand me old-fashioned in seeing problems about having to share a dressing room with a woman, but to go from there to talking about sexism … Would I be OK with peeing in front of a woman? No way. That in any case might be old-fashioned," Toni said.

Toni Nadal also suggested that it "might be easier for the captain to be a man," asserting that appointing a former top player like Juan Carlos Ferrero would be a more "normal" and acceptable arrangement.

"It would seem to be more normal if the captain had been someone like Juan Carlos Ferrero, or some ex-player of a certain level, which is what has happened recently," he said.

Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni on 'logistical difficulty' of having a female Davis Cup captain: "A lot of time is spent in locker rooms without much clothing"

Rafael Nadal with his uncle Toni (Source: Getty)

During the same interview, Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni conceded that women were equally capable but insisted that men's and women's tennis were completely different and required distinct coaching methods. He also expressed doubt about whether Gala Leon Garcia was even familiar with most of the players on the men's circuit.

"A woman is just as capable as a man, but men’s and women’s tennis are different sports. I know nothing about the hours and training systems for women’s tennis. I don’t even know who the best players are. I doubt Gala Leon knows the (men’s) world number 40," Toni Nadal said.

The Spaniard also argued that Garcia wasn't personally acquainted with their Davis Cup contingent, which included his nephew. Furthermore, he raised concerns about the "logistical difficulty" of having a woman in a setting where players often spent time undressed.

"I believe she doesn’t know the players, at least Rafael, and there is a logistical difficulty that is difficult to solve because, in the Davis Cup, a lot of time is spent in locker rooms without much clothing, and with a woman it would always be weird," he added.

However, Spanish player Marc Lopez pushed back against Toni Nadal's stance, dispelling his concerns by pointing out that Garcia didn't need to be present in the locker room when the players were showering.