There are many individuals who do not just like the new-ish Davis Cup format however the Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) will keep it up, regardless of ending its partnership with funding group Kosmos.
Earlier this month, veteran French participant Nicolas Mahut complained, “We misplaced 4 years of Davis Cup. We must always by no means have allowed this”.
And Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt lamented the top of home-and-away ties finally yr’s finals in Spain.
“I understand how a lot it meant for me as a participant to get the chance to play within the finals. So I am thrilled that these boys get that chance,” he mentioned.
“However I would adore it to be in Australia, although. I am disenchanted the boys do not get to play in entrance of 15,000 at Rod Laver Enviornment.”
Nevertheless, it seems to be as if finals week is right here to remain although the ITF, the governing physique of the game, has ended its partnership, 5 years into its 25-year deal.
The cope with Kosmos – fronted by former Barcelona soccer participant Gerard Pique – had led to a complete overhaul of the competitors based in 1900, with the same old home-and-away ties performed over a number of weekends within the yr scrapped.
That format was changed in 2019 with just one home-and-away spherical adopted by 18 groups competing in a single metropolis for a week-long climax to the season.
This yr, the group stage will happen at 4 venues from September 12-17, that includes 16 groups, with eight groups advancing to the knockout rounds in Malaga in November.
“We’re very excited with the format we have now. For those who return to the previous format, the issue was that the gamers must commit 4 weeks a yr to play,” ITF president David Haggerty mentioned.
“They would not know the place they had been enjoying. They would not know the weeks they had been enjoying and so they did not know who their opponents had been. That was one of many massive causes we went by means of the session and made the modifications for the 2019 version.
“We like that it is outlined. We’re trying to verify we have now the very best gamers competing and that we have now followers within the stadium and followers all over the world.
“Final yr we had been broadcast in additional than 200 international locations and territories, so it is ticking all these containers and ensuring we proceed to develop the power of the competitors.”
The London-based ITF mentioned final month that it had the funds in place to run the 2023 competitors and Haggerty mentioned it was in “strong monetary form”.
“The board deliberate for the Davis Cup with Kosmos and with out Kosmos,” he added.
He added that the ITF would work with the ATP to search out methods to enhance the competitors.
“We’ll proceed to search out good companions, like-minded companions and sponsors.”
