ANDERSON RARING TO GO IN OZ |
CANADIAN Denis Shapovalov called on the organisers of the Davis Cup Finals and the ATP Cup to work together to create one world championship, saying it felt “weird” to play two similar events back to back.
The inaugural edition of the revamped Davis Cup, the International Tennis Federation’s flagship event, was held in November in Madrid’s La Caja Magica with 18 nations playing a week-long soccer World Cup-style showpiece.
The rival ATP cup, which will see 24 nations contesting across three cities in Australia over 10 days from tomorrow for the first time, is similar in nature and the big question remains if the two can co-exist in the future.
The 20-year-old Shapovalov played brilliantly to lead Canada to it first Davis Cup final where they went down to Rafa Nadal’s Spain.
The world number 15 will again take up the mantle from tomorrow for Canada, who have been clubbed with Germany, Greece and hosts Australia in Group F of the ATP Cup.
“It would be great just to have one event that is a world championship,” he told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday. “A month ago we played the world championship and now it feels like we are playing another one.
“It would be great if they could organise and make one big event, make it a unique and special tournament. Hopefully they can come to terms together and make something happen.”
The new Davis Cup format was voted in by the ITF in 2018 and bankrolled by a $3 billion 25-year partnership with Kosmos, the Barcelona-based investment company owned by soccer player Gerard Pique.
Both Pique and Novak Djokovic, the president of the ATP’s Player Council, have in the past said the two events cannot co-exist and a solution must be found.
The ATP Cup will have total prize money of $15 million. The new Davis Cup Finals offered around $18 million to teams and another $9 million to federations.
■ Venus Williams has pulled out of the upcoming Brisbane International after suffering a “setback” in training, the former world number one said yesterday.
Williams, 39, was set to join world number one Ash Barty, Karolina Pliskova and Naomi Osaka in a strong field at the Queensland Tennis Centre from January 6-12 and the organisers said they would announce a wild card to take her place in the draw.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be starting my season in Brisbane due to an unexpected setback during my training,” Venus, a seven-times Grand Slam winner who was handed a wild card for the event, said in a statement.
“I look forward to being in Australia in the New Year and will see everyone at Adelaide.”
The Adelaide International begins on January 13. | Reuters
■ Meanwhile, African News Agency (Ana) reports South Africa’s two-time Major finalist Kevin Anderson has shaken off his injury woes and has arrived in Australia with a solid pre-season under his belt.
Anderson has emerged fit and strong after a miserable 2019 in which the former world No 5 saw his ranking plummet to 91 after a prolonged period of inactivity following knee surgery in September.
He arrived in Australia on Monday and he will spearhead South Africa’s challenge in the inaugural ATP Cup starting tomorrow. South Africa will play their opener on Saturday in Group A against Serbia in Brisbane.
“After my knee surgery in September, I’ve been very diligent about my rehab process and making sure I do the best things, with the help of my physio and fitness trainer, to get back to health in time for the 2020 season,” said Anderson.
“Things have been going really well. At my charity event in December, I played a set against Jesse Levine and another set with Coco Gauff against the Bryan brothers. But I’ve been training quite hard this pre-season and am very pleased with the results.
After the lay-off, Anderson is ready to stage his comeback alongside his fellow South Africans in a team environment.
“I’m excited about this event. It’s been a long time in planning with the ATP, so it’s great to finally see it start.
“I think it’s going to be exciting for the players to start the year playing for their country in this new team event and then also for the fans.
“I think they’re going to enjoy the format. Obviously, for South Africa, it’s going to be a tough group for us in Brisbane, but I’m looking forward to it.
A new face in Anderson’s travelling entourage will be new coach Diego Moyano, a former Argentinian professional.
“I was looking to add a new coach to my team for travelling purposes. I have worked and am still working with Jay Bosworth, who is based in South Florida,” said Anderson.