New Call: "We are committing Suicide"

OddJack · Dec 30, 2011

Nadal wants to make Davis Cup a bi annual affair after being played for 100 years every year.

"I told them (the IFT) 'We're committing suicide,'" Nadal told El Pais newspaper. "It's the truth, and I'm not saying that for my personal good. The reality is that things are bad and are not favouring a special competition.

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20111230/Nadal_repeats_his_call_for_reduced_Davis_Cup_schedule

Who are "we"? You chose to play DC and took home the trophy, now after a two year ranking you want a two year DC too?

Fantastic. If things are left to Nadal We should just switch sports and watch badminton or Soccer for half of the year.

You cannot be serious!!!

tusharlovesrafa · Dec 30, 2011

I agree with him on this.Davis cup is quite boring now a days.Waching these dumb tounament every year is Heresy..

Mustard · Dec 30, 2011

Nadal is right on this. I think it would be good to hold a Davis Cup tournament with the different national teams every 2/4 years, taking place late in the year around October time, lasting about a month.

Clarky21 · Dec 30, 2011

Tushy,DC is far from boring. It had some of the best matches of the year,imo.

And I am beginning to think that Oddjack has a thing for Nadal. He seems to occupy his every waking thought. Let your love shine through,Oddjack. You don't don't have to hide it anymore. :lol:

Clarky21 · Dec 30, 2011

Mustard said:
Nadal is right on this. I think it would be good to hold a Davis Cup tournament with different national teams every 2/4 years, taking place late in the year around October time, lasting about a month.

This. It really is too much,and this is a good solution to the problem.

tusharlovesrafa · Dec 30, 2011

Clarky21 said:
Tushy,DC is far from boring. It had some of the best matches of the year,imo.

And I am beginning to think that Oddjack has a thing for Nadal. He seems to occupy his every waking thought. Let your love shine through,Oddjack. You don't don't have to hide it anymore. :lol:

Only rafa's match with delpo was interesting and rest of the matches was not worth it..Jack is "thread poasting machine"as i mentioned before in one of the posts.Damn,it's 4 o clock in the morning in india and i havn't slept...

OddJack · Dec 30, 2011

Everything I do is out of love, and Nadal and his fans are no exception. I dont want them to stay in the dark for ever and that's my only goal here.

West Coast Ace · Dec 30, 2011

I would go further and say every 4 years or never, now that tennis is in the Olympics.

Davis Cup was created when the main method of long distance travel was the Ocean Liner. It's long outlived it's usefulness. It's like a bad soap opera - a team wins in Dec and is back at it in Feb, sometimes on the road - ridiculous.

Having said that, Rafa is stupid to be the one bringing this up. No one held a gun to his head to play this year. He'd already won it and had nothing to prove. He should have grown a spine and opted out years ago.

namelessone · Dec 30, 2011

Mustard said:
Nadal is right on this. I think it would be good to hold a Davis Cup tournament with the different national teams every 2/4 years, taking place late in the year around October time, lasting about a month.

Bingo.

What value would be World Cup in football have if it would be held every year?

DC becomes a oversight for many players(who already have a loaded schedule) and it's a shame because it has a great tradition.

namelessone · Dec 30, 2011

West Coast Ace said:
I would go further and say every 4 years or never, now that tennis is in the Olympics.

Davis Cup was created when the main method of long distance travel was the Ocean Liner. It's long outlived it's usefulness. It's like a bad soap opera - a team wins in Dec and is back at it in Feb, sometimes on the road - ridiculous.

Having said that, Rafa is stupid to be the one bringing this up. No one held a gun to his head to play this year. He'd already won it and had nothing to prove. He should have grown a spine and opted out years ago.

The guy is too patriotic.

Thankfully he is out of the team for 2012.

Clarky21 · Dec 30, 2011

namelessone said:
The guy is too patriotic.

Thankfully he is out of the team for 2012.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. He is already waffling back and forth about playing DC or not. Corretja is also lobbying pretty hard to get him to play. I wouldn't put it past Nadal to play it even though he shouldn't. He's made terrible scheduling decisions for years so I don't expect 2012 to be any different.

BigServer1 · Dec 30, 2011

They could make it every four years and do it World Cup style, with a huge break in the schedule and every nation represented.

That would at least make it memorable. In it's current state it's not even a blip on the sporting radar.

OddJack · Dec 30, 2011

DC is a business. You can't simply close a business that depends on annual income. It's not a charity or an event to make memories.
Some players want to play and make money off DC. It's not mandatory. Nadal can opt out like he did for next year. He just wants the best of both worlds for himself. Both win it for Spain and have enough time to win his own.
Many other players would not want that.
It's him who's commiting suicide, not WE

Funbun · Dec 30, 2011

Yeah. As a younger fan, I care very little about the Davis Cup because there's literally no broadcasting of its events, and I see no hype in it.

I think most younger fans would agree that we care mostly about the Slams and WTF. Nothing else.

niff · Dec 30, 2011

I only watch the final, since that's the only round that has live streaming with more than 10 pixels. The crowd never fail to bring the excitement in the final every year though.

Rock Strongo · Dec 30, 2011

niff said:
I only watch the final, since that's the only round that has live streaming with more than 10 pixels. The crowd never fail to bring the excitement in the final every year though.

When I was your age I was glad to even get 10 pixels, stop complaining!

rrito · Dec 30, 2011

Rafa's words are too extreme. As stated above, it's not a mandatory event. He has done enough for Spain that he should not be feeling any pressure to carry his country. How come it seems like he's been complaining a lot about the heaviness of the calendar? Do you think he knows that he can't perform at the top level much longer given how often and how hard he's been playing?
However, i do have to agree with him on this one. Casual tennis fans don't really care about the davis cup unless their country is involved. TUrning it into a once per 2 yr event would make it more prestigious and attractive.

decades · Dec 30, 2011

rafa thinks tennis is too hard. he doesn't have enough time for golf. and DC sometimes conflicts with his EXOs and he has to make the choice money or country. He decided not to play in 2012.

jokinla · Dec 30, 2011

Having one tourney every four years like soccer's World Cup would be exciting.

Colin · Dec 30, 2011

Yes, it is suicidal indeed!

Here's why: If I were a top tennis player, I'd want there to be more tennis options, more opportunities for my fellow, lesser-ranked players to get money and playing time, more chances for the public to view and get excited about the sport. Yet Rafa's solution to everything recently has been to reduce tennis, to take it away, to set forward a downward spiral so tennis might enter an abyss from which it can never emerge. Talk about suicidal. Where will the madness end? With a call to limit the season to a Monte Carlo warmup and a single slam at Roland Garros? Next thing you know he'll be agitating for the Olympics to be played every eight years for the sake of athletes.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems even Nole and the two Andys have stopped backing these nutty ideas, so it's become a sort of "Occupy the ATP" protest of one, a lone racket-wielding demonstrator before the ITF tanks.

What some seem to forget is that nobody is forcing Nadal to play all these tournaments. Sure he should play the majors and select masters (even then, Monte Carlo isn't compulsory and Rafa has the option of skipping a second tournament without losing points), but he does not need to play Davis Cup, nor does David Ferrer. The Spanish team has plenty of players who will jump at the opportunity. Almagro has been a Top 10 player and the team doesn't even bother using him. Rafa doesn't need to be hanging out in Abu Dhabi soaking up exo cash. But there he is, sore shoulders sweltering under the sadistic sun, pockets stuffed with cash. Maybe he can put that money in his "new legs and arms" jar for when the sad time comes from his nonsensical scheduling and martyrish style of play.

The thing is Rafa can take time off if he needs to. He can ignore the sideshows — Davis Cup, Olympics, World Team Tennis, etc. But he chooses to be a diva, like a leading lady who wants to be the star of every show but can't meet the demands. Well, there's no need to close down the production because one person can't go onstage.

Sometimes the problem isn't the play, but the actors.

Bartelby · Dec 30, 2011

Yes, the Olympics is a long-term threat to the Davis Cup's credibility.

Sentinel · Dec 30, 2011

Also the Olympics should be only once in 8 years. It's killing to have it TWO times in a decade.

jamesblakefan#1 · Dec 30, 2011

One thing I do agree on, the Davis Cup is dying and in some people's minds is dead as an international competition to be cared about. Have it once every two years, tweak the format, and hold it at one place over a two week period. I suggested as much a couple of years ago.

ViscaB · Dec 30, 2011

OddJack said:
Nadal wants to make Davis Cup a bi annual affair after being played for 100 years every year.

Who are "we"? You chose to play DC and took home the trophy, now after a two year ranking you want a two year DC too?

Fantastic. If things are left to Nadal We should just switch sports and watch badminton or Soccer for half of the year.

You cannot be serious!!!

As many have said the world cup is only played every 4 years.... Keeping it exclusive increases the attention. It also ensures all the great players compete.

OddJack · Dec 30, 2011

The Davis cup will change name to Tennis World Cup and will never die. Dont you see the crowd attendance and enthusiasm?
Too much money involved, and pro players love it too, it pays.

West Coast Ace · Dec 30, 2011

Sentinel said:
Also the Olympics should be only once in 8 years. It's killing to have it TWO times in a decade.

Do you mean 'killing' as in a ton of money spent every 4 yrs? The problem with once every 8 yrs is the 'half life' of athletes - some would miss their prime.

jamesblakefan#1 · Dec 30, 2011

West Coast Ace said:
Do you mean 'killing' as in a ton of money spent every 4 yrs? The problem with once every 8 yrs is the 'half life' of athletes - some would miss their prime.

Just a hint - I think he was being facetious.

West Coast Ace · Dec 30, 2011

jamesblakefan#1 said:
I think he was being facetious.

He might think the money should be spent on better things. There are plenty of people who do.

cork_screw · Dec 31, 2011

I don't know, it's not too big in America, that's for sure. But it might mean more to other countries. I can't speak for other nations worldwide, I don't think we should speak for others as well if we're taking it in from our own perspective. Spain seems to take it very seriously and this was even before Nadal. Just like I feel America could be hum ho about Soccer, but people in Italy might feel differently and would swear at me for calling it soccer than football.

Even in America, tennis is mainly followed by those who play tennis. Whereas in other countries like Australia, for instance the common citizen with no tennis background could identify who Lleyton Hewitt was and would follow it because it's more of a common sport than what we would associate with. When it's like that it can drive a whole nation crazy when they get into the Davis Cup rounds. That's why I feel some of us aren't fit to judge.

Tennis_Hands · Jan 1, 2012

cork_screw said:
I don't know, it's not too big in America, that's for sure. But it might mean more to other countries. I can't speak for other nations worldwide, I don't think we should speak for others as well if we're taking it in from our own perspective. Spain seems to take it very seriously and this was even before Nadal. Just like I feel America could be hum ho about Soccer, but people in Italy might feel differently and would swear at me for calling it soccer than football.

Even in America, tennis is mainly followed by those who play tennis. Whereas in other countries like Australia, for instance the common citizen with no tennis background could identify who Lleyton Hewitt was and would follow it because it's more of a common sport than what we would associate with. When it's like that it can drive a whole nation crazy when they get into the Davis Cup rounds. That's why I feel some of us aren't fit to judge.

+1000

Nadal is making a laughing stock of himself.

merlinpinpin · Jan 2, 2012

Colin said:
Yes, it is suicidal indeed!

Here's why: If I were a top tennis player, I'd want there to be more tennis options, more opportunities for my fellow, lesser-ranked players to get money and playing time, more chances for the public to view and get excited about the sport. Yet Rafa's solution to everything recently has been to reduce tennis, to take it away, to set forward a downward spiral so tennis might enter an abyss from which it can never emerge. Talk about suicidal. Where will the madness end? With a call to limit the season to a Monte Carlo warmup and a single slam at Roland Garros? Next thing you know he'll be agitating for the Olympics to be played every eight years for the sake of athletes.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems even Nole and the two Andys have stopped backing these nutty ideas, so it's become a sort of "Occupy the ATP" protest of one, a lone racket-wielding demonstrator before the ITF tanks.

What some seem to forget is that nobody is forcing Nadal to play all these tournaments. Sure he should play the majors and select masters (even then, Monte Carlo isn't compulsory and Rafa has the option of skipping a second tournament without losing points), but he does not need to play Davis Cup, nor does David Ferrer. The Spanish team has plenty of players who will jump at the opportunity. Almagro has been a Top 10 player and the team doesn't even bother using him. Rafa doesn't need to be hanging out in Abu Dhabi soaking up exo cash. But there he is, sore shoulders sweltering under the sadistic sun, pockets stuffed with cash. Maybe he can put that money in his "new legs and arms" jar for when the sad time comes from his nonsensical scheduling and martyrish style of play.

The thing is Rafa can take time off if he needs to. He can ignore the sideshows — Davis Cup, Olympics, World Team Tennis, etc. But he chooses to be a diva, like a leading lady who wants to be the star of every show but can't meet the demands. Well, there's no need to close down the production because one person can't go onstage.

Sometimes the problem isn't the play, but the actors.

Right on. And the next step for him, I guess, is to suggest that each tournament be played every two years (ie AO and Wimbledon one year, FO and USO the next), and then, finally, maybe we can have a single grand slam event per year, with a four-year rotation. Wouldn't that be neat? :roll:

fps · Jan 2, 2012

I think Davis Cup needs a better structure, one in which people can see the matches meaning something, and see the progression to the final properly. At the moment I don't look into the event much because I don't understand the different zones, or why anyone's playing in the early rounds.

If you say to me *well look into it then* I say to you I'm the most tennis mad person I know and even I don't feel compelled to care, because the structure isn't right.

They should do the Davis Cup over a two year period. Surfaces should be chosen randomly in any country that has facilities to play on more than one surface. Final in a neutral location.

joeri888 · Jan 2, 2012

Here's what Justin and I think of Nadal's recent flow of comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksSPZTZES0&ob=av2e

Tennis_Hands · Jan 2, 2012

Those two rules are about the only thing, I would like to see changed (only for the final):

"Choice of ground shall include surface of the court"
"Choice of ground shall include choice of ball"

I prefer to see those decided by lot (considering the available options, of course).

Sentinel · Jan 2, 2012

West Coast Ace said:
Do you mean 'killing' as in a ton of money spent every 4 yrs? The problem with once every 8 yrs is the 'half life' of athletes - some would miss their prime.

Yep, i was being sarcy.

Killing as in 'damaging' for Tenderito's brittle body and joints.

jamesblakefan#1 said:
Just a hint - I think he was being facetious.

+1

vernonbc · Jan 2, 2012

Rafa has been saying the same thing for a number of years now. This isn't new and he's not alone in wanting changes to the DC scheduling. The problem is that the ITF makes a ton of money from DC and they don't want to change anything. Rafa (and most of the others) are getting increasingly frustrated at money being more important than the players at both the Slams and the DC.

Most of the players would love to play for their country but the timing of the ties right after heavily scheduled blocks of tennis which culminate in slams means the top players can't fit it into their schedules, or they do so at great cost to their own health and tennis schedules. Rafa as VP of the council speaks for the players when he discusses these matters. He's not talking just for himself.

Tennis_Hands · Jan 2, 2012

vernonbc said:
Rafa (and most of the others) are getting increasingly frustrated at money being more important than the players at both the Slams and the DC..

Please. Pocketing appearance fees for participation in EXOs is not exactly being frustrated.

vernonbc said:
Most of the players would love to play for their country but the timing of the ties right after heavily scheduled blocks of tennis which culminate in slams means the top players can't fit it into their schedules, or they do so at great cost to their own health and tennis schedules.

Again. Playing meaningless EXO tournaments is OK, but DC rubbers is unacceptable?

vernonbc said:
Rafa as VP of the council speaks for the players when he discusses these matters. He's not talking just for himself.

I can understand that. However, there is also that Federer guy, who is not so vocal about a 2 year DC schedule. He also happens to be the President of the said Council.

vernonbc · Jan 2, 2012

Tennis_Hands said:
Please. Pocketing appearance fees for participation in EXOs is not exactly being frustrated.

The ITF makes a ton of money and they are the ones that are blocking any change to the DC schedule. The players earnings have nothing to do with this argument.

Again. Playing meaningless EXO tournaments is OK, but DC rubbers is unacceptable?

And which meaningless exo tournaments would those be? They hardly play exos every other week, and there is a huge difference between an hour of fun tennis and a four or five hour intense DC match. No comparison between the two whatsoever.

I can understand that. However, there is also that Federer guy, who is not so vocal about a 2 year DC schedule. He also happens to be the President of the said Council.

Federer, although he is not the end all and be all of the tennis players advisory structure and his is certainly not the only voice that should be listened to, has said the DC schedule has to be changed. Why do you think he hasn't played DC for many years until this year when it became a requirement for his participation in the Olympics. Federer is absolutely not happy about the DC schedule. Did you hear some of his interviews when he had to fly from New York to Australia?

Deleted member 21996 · Jan 2, 2012

Nadal should shut the frack up and play, as that is why he receives a buttload of money!

otherwise he can always give up on that and study and see if with higher education his life would be "much better"

Magnus · Jan 2, 2012

OddJack said:
Nadal wants to make Davis Cup a bi annual affair after being played for 100 years every year.

"I told them (the IFT) 'We're committing suicide,'" Nadal told El Pais newspaper. "It's the truth, and I'm not saying that for my personal good. The reality is that things are bad and are not favouring a special competition.

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20111230/Nadal_repeats_his_call_for_reduced_Davis_Cup_schedule

Who are "we"? You chose to play DC and took home the trophy, now after a two year ranking you want a two year DC too?

Fantastic. If things are left to Nadal We should just switch sports and watch badminton or Soccer for half of the year.

You cannot be serious!!!

Nadal is clearly out of his mind and needs help. He's a good tennis player, but as far as deciding what's best for the sport, he's insane.

El Diablo · Jan 2, 2012

People tend to be bitter and irritable when things aren't going well for them, and that's certainly been Nadal's story the last half year. Then we hear he may be getting married soon. Little wonder he mentions suicide when he talks. The guy is a wreck.

Tennis_Hands · Jan 2, 2012

vernonbc said:
The ITF makes a ton of money and they are the ones that are blocking any change to the DC schedule.

And? So does Nadal playing EXOs. I don't see him complaining about the fact, that EXOs are money-driven?

vernonbc said:
The players earnings have nothing to do with this argument.

Well. They have, because it is a matter of principles. Either you accept, that you are part of one big money making machine, earn big, grow balls and accept the consequences from that decision or you refuse to accept that reality. In case you opt for the second you have two choices:

A: Continue to play while trying to stay out of the big money schemes (naive) or

B: Quit the game, go and find better future.

The problem is - also for those two choices you have to have balls. Unfortunately, Nadal doesn't seem to understand that.

He cannot have it both ways.

vernonbc said:
And which meaningless exo tournaments would those be? .

Virtually every EXO tournament he has entered in the past.

vernonbc said:
They hardly play exos every other week, and there is a huge difference between an hour of fun tennis and a four or five hour intense DC match. No comparison between the two whatsoever..

Would you care to count the number of EXO matches, that Nadal has played in 2011? Thank you.
Also, you seem to not really understand, that the match itself is only a tiny part of the time and effort spent, when you play an EXO. Everyone, who has been involved in some kind of serious scheduling knows that.

vernonbc said:
Federer, although he is not the end all and be all of the tennis players advisory structure and his is certainly not the only voice that should be listened to, has said the DC schedule has to be changed. ?

In this discussion you brought up Nadal as a VP of the Council. Federer is the President, so, in a way, he is the be all. Not to mention the fact, that Federer seems to represent the majority of the players better than Nadal.

vernonbc said:
Why do you think he hasn't played DC for many years until this year when it became a requirement for his participation in the Olympics.

Check your facts before posting stupidities.

vernonbc said:
Federer is absolutely not happy about the DC schedule. Did you hear some of his interviews when he had to fly from New York to Australia?

I hear when someone says something worthy of consideration. Which is not what Nadal have said. That is all.

tacou · Jan 2, 2012

Clarky21 said:
Tushy,DC is far from boring. It had some of the best matches of the year,imo.

And I am beginning to think that Oddjack has a thing for Nadal. He seems to occupy his every waking thought. Let your love shine through,Oddjack. You don't don't have to hide it anymore. :lol:

I don't think DC is boring, exactly. The players obviously care about it a lot and the audiences are wild.
However, it's more like, what's the point of winning DC? The amount of time between the final and the first round is so short it's essentially a continuous tournament.
I think Marat Safin said this too, that you win the tournament and feel amazing but then 3 months later you are back in the first round.

Sentinel · Jan 3, 2012

Gorecki said:
Nadal should shut the frack up and play, as that is why he receives a buttload of money!

otherwise he can always give up on that and study and see if with higher education his life would be "much better"

Nice play on boat-load.

Have a great year, buddy.

tusharlovesrafa · Jan 3, 2012

Gorecki said:
Nadal should shut the frack up and play, as that is why he receives a buttload of money!

otherwise he can always give up on that and study and see if with higher education his life would be "much better"

happy new year,gorecki...

Sentinel · Jan 3, 2012

So when are we committing suicide ? I need prior notice.

Is Rafa the new Jim Jones ?

kanamit · Jan 3, 2012

OddJack said:
Nadal wants to make Davis Cup a bi annual affair after being played for 100 years every year.

"I told them (the IFT) 'We're committing suicide,'" Nadal told El Pais newspaper. "It's the truth, and I'm not saying that for my personal good. The reality is that things are bad and are not favouring a special competition.

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20111230/Nadal_repeats_his_call_for_reduced_Davis_Cup_schedule

Who are "we"? You chose to play DC and took home the trophy, now after a two year ranking you want a two year DC too?

Fantastic. If things are left to Nadal We should just switch sports and watch badminton or Soccer for half of the year.

You cannot be serious!!!

Maybe he means the special olympics.

Carsomyr · Jan 3, 2012

Big name players have been complaining about DC since Sampras and Agassi, possibly even before them. I agree that DC scheduling at least needs an examination.

stringertom · Jan 4, 2012

Sentinel said:
So when are we committing suicide ? I need prior notice.

Is Rafa the new Jim Jones ?

To me, watching Tenderlito is the visual form of the Jonestown Kool-Aid...death by a 1,000 towel-offs and offensive digital stimulation of the gluteus maximus.

Outbeyond · Jan 4, 2012

Nadal is merely stating the obvious: the Davis Cup tournament is an after-thought. No one even thinks about it unless someone reminds them some particular round of it is coming up. Even then, the next question is: well, who's playing in this round?

What kind of tournament is this? It's a "who cares" kind-of thing....no one cares.

Make the Davis Cup championship a one or two-week or even three-week event - something along the lines of a Grand Slam event - and then all the sudden...you've got mail!

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