Spanish tennis federation faces Fed Cup boycott by top female players

Spanish tennis federation faces Fed Cup walkout

BARCELONA, Spain — The Spanish tennis federation has pledged to boost its support of women’s tennis after six of its top female players announced they will boycott the country’s Fed Cup team.

Spain’s top-ranked player, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, was among those who signed a letter this week stating they would not compete due to the “total lack of support and interest shown to women’s tennis by this federation.”

The federation issued a 13-point reply on its website Saturday to show its commitment to women’s tennis, including a $261,000 boost in women’s funding.

It said the economic crisis was to blame for a drop in men’s and women’s prize money in tournaments in Spain.

Five-time champion Spain plays Estonia in a World Group II match in February.