Revamped Davis Cup causing a racket
MADRID Despite renewed complaints from France’s players about the upcoming changes to the Davis Cup, the organizers of the revamped tennis tournament are adamant everything will soon be better.
Javier Alonso, the CEO of the company behind the new competition, spoke to The Associated Press two days after France’s Davis Cup team lashed out at the changes being made to the traditional tournament.
Lucas Pouille even said he would boycott the competition.
“There are several reasons why there is a negative perception in France,” Alonso said. “If France hadn’t made it to the finals these last few years, the perception there would be different.
“France also is a particular case because the French federation is richer, having a Grand Slam, a Masters (event) and many other tournaments. Other federations are not like that. There are some countries that don’t want to host matches because they would lose money if they did.”
France hosted this year’s final, losing to Croatia 3-1. It was the team’s second straight final appearance and third in five years. The new format will be an 18-team tournament played over a week in a single venue with the first two editions being hosted in Madrid on an indoor hard court, which already hosts the Madrid Masters.
The revamped competition was developed in a partnership between the International Tennis Federation and Kosmos, the investment group founded by Barcelona soccer player Gerard Pique. The ITF said the changes will help increase revenue for the national federations.
Besides the French, others have also complained about the new format. Among those showing opposition was top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who said the Davis Cup would conflict with the ATP Cup, a newly created team competition. Roger Fe der er has said he does not intend to play in the new Davis Cup event, but Rafael Nadal has already confirmed his presence.