| 6/5/2025 | No. 58 Men’s Tennis BOCA RATON, Fla. – Ricardo Gonzalez, Florida Atlantic’s Director of Tennis, has been named captain of the Puerto Rico National Tennis Team for the upcoming Davis Cup, beginning June 9. Gonzalez and five teammates will compete in the Americas Group III 9 versus Aruba, Bermuda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, and Venezuela. The event will be held at the Costa Rica Country Club in San Jose, Costa Rica.  QUOTABLE Ricard Gonzalez, Florida Atlantic’s Director of Tennis and 2025 Davis Cup Captain “Representing your country is always the biggest of all honors. Puerto Rico has given me so much. I am so humbled to have the opportunity to represent my homeland once again. I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in the small town of Aguadilla and Isabella, Puerto Rico. Giving back to my country and my community is something I have always wanted to do. I am extremely honored to be the captain of our Davis Cup team. I have done very little for what my people deserve, and I am excited to get involved once again. Our sport has always had a ton of talented athletes, and it is very important that we continue to promote our sport. We need to do more for our island. This includes me and everyone else who has played a role in this sport in Puerto Rico. I am extremely humbled by everyone who has paved the way through this journey. Jorge and Gustavo Gonzalez, Cholo Almonte, Mickey Nieves, all my Davis Cup coaches, the PRTA for trusting in me, and last but not least, the best mentor and coach I ever had, my dad; Ricardo Gonzalez, who introduced the sport to me, taught me and many others to become the best tennis players in Puerto Rico, the United States, and the world. I am humbled to give back to this young generation, parents and grandparents. We have strong roots, and we are extremely proud to be Puerto Ricans. I am excited to see our boys fight their tails off and make our country proud. I am ready to battle with this group.” FORMAT The two pools of four teams will crown a pool winner who will automatically be promoted to the World Group II playoffs, to be held in 2026. They will be joined by the winner of the promotion playoff between the two teams finishing in second place in each pool. The two teams finishing in fourth place in each pool will be relegated to Americas group IV in 2026. Three are promoted and two are relegated. AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC Gonzalez came to Florida Atlantic as an assistant men’s coach for the 2011-12 season. He was elevated to the men’s head coach in 2012-13. Since that time, he has tallied a 177-128 record and has led the men’s squad to an ITA national ranking in their last seven full seasons, including a season-ending No. 58 in 2024-25 as a team as well as senior John Bernard concluding his final campaign at No. 119 individually.On the women’s side, Gonzalez began guiding the women’s team in January of 2023.The squad enjoyed historic success in 2024-25 by advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005. The Owls were the only team in the nation to conclude the regular season with an undefeated record, finished 17-2 overall. They were 10-0 at home, captured a first-round victory at the NCAA Championship, and ended their campaign ranked No. 27 with a doubles pair that ranked No. 55. Gonzalez is 51-26 overall as the helm of the women’s program. FOLLOW ALONG To follow the Owls socially, visit @faumtennis, or for the most up-to-date information, go to www.fausports.com. |
