Old Davis Cup format impresses in Uscroatia tie

ZADAR, CROATIA: Fans banging drums and blowing trumpets for hours on end. Colorful costumes. Chants more reminiscent of soccer games than tennis matches.

Plus, a series of marathon matches featuring constant momentum changes and drama.

The atmosphere at the best-offive semi-final series between Croatia and the United States over the weekend was a reminder of what makes the old Davis Cup format so attractive.

“Very few matches players will ever play in their career have more pressure than that,” US captain Jim Courier said after Croatia’s Borna Coric ground out a five-set win over Davis Cup rookie Frances Tiafoe in the fifth and deciding match.

“Grand Slam final maybe is the only thing that comes close to touching that,” Courier added.

Yet that environment won’t be around in 2019. Beginning next year, the top team event in men’s tennis — which started in 1900 — will be decided with a seasonending, 18-team tournament at a neutral site.

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