MADRID — Gala León’s appointment as Spain’s first female Davis Cup captain could be a milestone for women in Spanish sports. For now, though, it has instead fueled a debate about whether a woman is fit to coach a man.

León’s nomination Sunday sparked criticism from former and current men’s players and coaches, including the suggestion that she would face a “logistical” problem in entering a men’s locker room.

At her official presentation Tuesday, León said, “I’m not here to create a sexist debate but to bring back home the salad bowl,” a reference to the Davis Cup trophy. She said that she would listen to the players to try to ease any rift, “although not everybody has to have the same opinion.”

León takes over as captain from Carlos Moyá, a former No. 1-ranked player, at what is a low point for Spanish tennis. Moyá resigned after Spain absorbed a humiliating defeat against Brazil this month that relegated it from the world group of elite teams for the first time since 1995.