NEW DAVIS CUP IS BIG DOWNGRADE

TENNIS’S finest often skipped the Davis Cup. They all wanted to win it, though, at some point in their careers. So Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka paired up for Switzerland, champions in 2014, Novak Djokovic (right) played for Serbia, champions in 2010, and Andy Murray was inspirational for Great Britain, champions in 2015. When the revamped Davis Cup begins next year, however, it is unlikely Federer or Djokovic will play. World No 5, Alexander Zverev, has announced he will not be involved. Germany last won the Davis Cup in 1993, when Michael Stich was on the team, but Zverev is not interested in the revamped competition, scheduled for November 2019, after the ATP Finals. He would prefer time off, and believes many top players will agree. For while the old Davis Cup was far from perfect, it was a proper tournament with a serious qualification process. The new version has already seen Argentina and Great Britain through to the finals as invited wildcards. Its status is instantly downgraded. Looking back to Britain’s victory three years ago, the stage wins over the uSA, France and Australia were marvellous and to replace them with a competition that rewards nations on a whim is quite dismal. Shorn of its stars and no longer a matter of merit, what is the Davis Cup anyway? Any kudos it possessed has been surrendered.