Davis Cup

[titoelcolombiano]

How can the ITF make Davis Cup a must play and must watch event for players and the sporting public respectively?

it has the potential to be as popular as the 5th major if done right. Here is my suggestion:

1. Change the format to a three or four week tournament held in a single location on a single surface (rotating depending on host country) to concentrate it and give the media a chance to make it a focus (like a world cup or a slam)

2. Play it every four years and allow for it in the tour so that it gives all of the top guys to plan to play in it without conflicts

3. Play in official national kits (this happens to an extent now, but make this one mandatory)

Imagine Switzerland led by Roger & Stan vs Spain led by Rafa & Verdasco eight or so years ago for a Davis Cup final

I see so many Davis Cup ties that should be epic, but they end up being forgettable because the top guys are missing.

Thoughts? Can anyone add to the above suggestions? Does anyone else want the Davis Cup to be the world cup of tennis even that it should be?

 

[TripleATeam]

1. I don't see the place to fit that into the ATP calendar while giving players rest periods of 1-2 weeks between big tournaments.

2. Football players can often play well into their thirties, and large teams can win these events. Tennis players oftentimes cannot. Playing every 4 years makes it so the average tennis player gets maybe 3 or 4 opportunities to win this.

2.5. Also, then it is practically the same as the Olympics, except it has less upset potential...

3. Sure.

All in all, this plan seems pretty shaky. Instead, I would pursue the path of "inflating" the Davis Cup.

• Keep it Best-of-5, no question.
• Add more significant monetary benefit to the tournament.
• Greater amounts of marketing for the tournament.

And that's just a start- in order to make it as prestigious as another major, many additional criteria must be met, but that's a start.

 

[Tommy Haas]

• Add more significant monetary benefit to the tournament.

Isn't the pay up to each particular nation's tennis governing organization? In the US it's the USTA and I've heard they pay their Davis Cup players top dollar. While smaller nations only pay enough for the player to cover his travel expenses. Some have complained about this being an unfair advantage to the US because the USTA is such a rich organization and want to institute a salary cap like in professional team sports.

 

[TripleATeam]

Isnt the pay up to each particular nation's tennis governing organization? For the US it's the USTA I've heard that they pay their Davis Cup players top dollar. While smaller nations only pay enough for the player to cover his travel expenses. Someone have complained about this being an unfair advantage to the US because the USTA is such a rich organization and want to institute some sort of salary cap like in the professional team sport leagues.

Precisely. Increased marketing and tournament visibility will allow businesspeople to rally around the tournament as a chance to gain profit, and as such, will offer to each nation a sizeable purse for showing, and a slight increase for winning.

In doing so, it will also make people more likely to play for their nation, even if that nation is unwilling to offer funds to tennis players themselves, as the businesses will fork the bill. A few million for each team won't be too harsh of a blow if the ATP increases prestige and visibility.

 

[Noelan]

Nothing of that will happen in near future in DC , only change for now is neutral country where finals will play. And they're introcducing Word Cup again this time will be played in Australia before AO on hard court.
It seems none of top players are interested in DC once when they won it.
Player council president in behalf of players suggested to 4 year system . ITF did't approve

 

[Tshooter]

Another silly Harvard tradition with no place in the 21st century. Get rid of it.

MAGA !

 

[Tommy Haas]

Another silly Harvard tradition with no place in the 21st century. Get rid of it.

I agree. They created Davis Cup to be an international intercollegiate championship, but there's plenty of tournaments at all levels of play around the world now. Give the players a break. They aren't required to play, but are often pressured to and especially if they want to be selected for the Olympics.

 

[ibbi]

They can't make it must play, not with the amount of crap in the calendar. I think making it into a 3 or 4 week tournament would ruin it. The idea of doing something like that is a good one, but to lose the whole home and away tie thing, to see the tactical choosing of surfaces, and the way that is overcome, that is what makes the Davis Cup so special. 5 set tennis, all over the world, on all surfaces, it's honestly the greatest non-slam thing in the whole calendar (some of the best ties can surpass anything you see at even the slams), and the way it's been dying for the last 15 years or so is a freakin' tragedy.

 

[DUROC]

I agree. They created Davis Cup to be an international intercollegiate championship, but there's plenty of tournaments at all levels of play around the world now. Give the players a break. They aren't required to play, but are often pressured to and especially if they want to be selected for the Olympics.

Well most players are supported and grow thru their countries federations.............all that federal money that went in to developing those players is paid back by events like the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and now the Olympics.

If you listen and read interviews from many players from France or Russia or Hungary....etc winning Davis Cup is often a top priory's for them. The French FTT as they bring their players up drill into them how important Davis / Fed Cup are and even more important than winning individual tournaments.

 

[iri10]

I'm probably one of a small minority who want this, but I'd like to see the Davis Cup and the women's Fed Cup combined into one entity. Just a big ol' extravaganza with a best of 11 format (all five rubbers for each gender, plus one for mixed doubles).

 

[TheAssassin]

Well one thing they have done wrong recently IMO is deciding to remove the BO5 format. Not that I think BO3 can't produce epics but I think it would be nice sometimes having BO5 outside the four Majors. After 2007 changes in WTF and Masters finals; and now, it will be completely gone.

 

[Mainad]

Well one thing they have done wrong recently IMO is deciding to remove the BO5 format. Not that I think BO3 can't produce epics but I think it would be nice sometimes having BO5 outside the four Majors. After 2007 changes in WTF and Masters finals; and now, it will be completely gone.

The Olympic final is still best of 5.

 

[ibbi]

The Olympic final is still best of 5.

Yep. Best of 5 tennis heading for once every 4 years status. Nice.

 

[Mainad]

Yep. Best of 5 tennis heading for once every 4 years status. Nice.

I'm just saying. I quite agree that there should be more best of 5 played, not less. I think all big tournament finals ie. WTF, M1000s should be played as best of 5 and not just the Slams and the Olympics. I deplore the move to reduce Davis Cup ties to best of 3.

 

[reaper]

The way to make Davis Cup a "must play" is to give it serious points on the ATP tour. First round, 50 points for each singles win. R2 100 points per win, R3 200, R4(final) 400 points. That would put a potential 1500 points up for grabs for 8 matches played. The parochial crowds at Davis Cup matches make them far more exciting than so many tour events played in neutral countries in front of small and indifferent crowds. Capitalising on that would boost the sport as a whole.

 

[tennisaddict]

I think Davis Cup is a great tradition , however the individual glory has been hyped beyond limits rendering the event less meaningful .

The clay season is just too long . Take 2 weeks from there . Take 1 week from the fall season as it is a drag from USO to WTF.

Makes sense to conduct it yearly after YEC at an Olympic like venue . Award points as well and prize money like any other event .

Will be sad to see this event go . It has a place in tennis history

 

[gogo]

Maybe there's a half measure. I think the several weeks format won't work, but perhaps, every 2nd year, there is a dual-location tournament (for each half of the draw) for the first half of the draw, that lasts for 5-6 days, and then the SF/Final tournament that does the same.

Regarding awarding ATP points, yes, that would attract more of the top players, but that would disadvantage players from the non-strong countries, wouldn't it?

ETA< Oh, and I wanted to say that I didn't like the only every 4 years format. If a key player or two are injured at the time then they might appear only every 8 years.

 

[reaper]

Maybe there's a half measure. I think the several weeks format won't work, but perhaps, every 2nd year, there is a dual-location tournament (for each half of the draw) for the first half of the draw, that lasts for 5-6 days, and then the SF/Final tournament that does the same.

Regarding awarding ATP points, yes, that would attract more of the top players, but that would disadvantage players from the non-strong countries, wouldn't it?

ETA< Oh, and I wanted to say that I didn't like the only every 4 years format. If a key player or two are injured at the time then they might appear only every 8 years.

Neutral venues dilute the partisan crowd...which to me diminishes the appeal. It's a test of the player to combat both their opponent and an overtly hostile crowd.