‘Two world team events will dilute both’

LONDON: Novak Djokovic fears staging a revamped Davis Cup finals and a revived ATP World Team Cup weeks apart could hurt the sport and result in creating two ‘average’ events.

Tennis’s world governing body, the ITF, was given the green light in August to launch a new Davis Cup format next year, culminating in an 18-nation finals week to be held at the end of November in Madrid.

Several leading players, including Djokovic, who beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-1 at the ATP Finals on Wednesday, have questioned the timing of the ITF’S flagship event, coming at the end of a gruelling 11-month season and Germany’s Zverev said this week he would not play in the showpiece finals. The ATP, the governing body of the men’s game, are behind plans for a rival World Team Cup.

ATP’S competition the World Team Cup which is set to start in January 2020 in Australia before the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, will feature 24 teams, offer $15 million in prize money and ranking points.

With the ITF and ATP on collision course and both seemingly determined to push ahead with their rival events, Djokovic believes it could end up being damaging for the sport. “Obviously the Davis Cup and World Team Cup situation is delicate,” Djokovic said. “We find ourselves in this kind of circumstances that we have to deal with.

“I think in the next two years we’ll have both events happening in a very similar format if not the same, six weeks apart. I don’t think it’s good for the sport.”

PATNA PIRATES WIN

MUMBAI:PARDEEP Narwal starred with excellent raids to guide Patna Pirates to a close 38-35 win over Dabang Delhi in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) match. Pardeep led Patna with an excellent raiding performance as he scored 16 points and was ably supported by Manjeet (8 points).