How do you like this new Davis Cup finals format compared to the prior format?

[Sudacafan]

What I liked about the old format, and what differentiated Davis Cup from just another tournament, was the home team vs the visiting factor. I liked that visiting teams had to deal with what the home team brought as far as where the tie was played and the home team fans. I've been to several Davis Cup ties and the atmosphere was always electric. I also liked that Davis Cup was often played in venues where tennis would not normally be played. I remember Spain hosting a tie in a bullring, and the US putting a court in left field of Padres Stadium. I was big follower of Davis Cup but now is seems like just another generic event. Now I'm having a hard time getting into it all. I know Serbia lost today but I couldn't tell you anything else...

I feel for and with you.

 

[Subway Tennis]

If there had been more harmony between Vilas and Clerc in 1981, too. We were so close in that doubles pivotal match. Vilas served for the match.
Can you believe that they said that they didn’t talk to each other? Being doubles partners, that was insane.

I never knew communication had broken down so much between Vilas and Clerc that they weren't speaking at all. It's kind of shocking that with so much combined talent they still nearly took that doubles campaign even though there was zero verbal communication.

 

[Blahovic]

I have a problem with the taking away of the passionate crowd atmosphere. Agree in that.
But, I DO have a problem with the new lame Bo3 format. That is NOT a DC. The last tournament to accept tiebreakers, excluding RG in the final set. Champions of tradition.
Look at them now.

It's a shame to lose BO5 but the problem with BO5 is it's not a format that's conducive to a congested schedule. You can't play BO5 every day. The slams can do it because they have a day in between.

Ultimately if you had Federer Vs Nadal and Wawrinka Vs Ferrer in the final of the World Cup of tennis with millions watching, that would be great for tennis and fans regardless of it being BO3 or not.

 

[Sudacafan]

It's a shame to lose BO5 but the problem with BO5 is it's not a format that's conducive to a congested schedule. You can't play BO5 every day. The slams can do it because they have a day in between.

Ultimately if you had Federer Vs Nadal and Wawrinka Vs Ferrer in the final of the World Cup of tennis with millions watching, that would be great for tennis and fans regardless of it being BO3 or not.

DC singles matches were played same as in slams with a day in between (Fri and Sun). Doubles were played on Sats. The only way a singles player could be playing consecutive days was if he played doubles too, what did not always happen.
DC worked that way for decades without problems, and it was even worse before because all sets were played without tiebreaks. Then, in 1989 they implemented tiebreaks for all sets except the fifth (as played in RG), and finally in 2016, the fifth set tiebreak (as played in the USO).

 

[Blahovic]

DC singles matches were played same as in slams with a day in between (Fri and Sun). Doubles were played on Sats. The only way a singles player could be playing consecutive days was if he played doubles too, what did not always happen.
DC worked that way for decades without problems, and it was even worse before because all sets were played without tiebreaks. Then, in 1989 they implemented tiebreaks for all sets except the fifth (as played in RG), and finally in 2016, the fifth set tiebreak (as played in the USO).

DC's previous schedule and format had massive problems (i.e that top players didn't play).

Moving to a tournament format is necessary. But it needs a better spot on the calendar.

 

[Sudacafan]

DC's previous schedule and format had massive problems (i.e that top players didn't play).

Moving to a tournament format is necessary. But it needs a better spot on the calendar.

Yes, that’s true. Normally top players played until they won it for their countries once (Federer’s and Del Potro’s cases).
There was never going to be better spots for it in the calendar anyway, as it was already very tight.

 

[Bartelby]

It didn't matter that the top players didn't play early on as long as they turned up at the end.

Watching the world's best beat minnows was never that interesting.

What mattered in Davis Cup is that the tour-like scedule created fabulous national interest as it moved around the world.

DC's previous schedule and format had massive problems (i.e that top players didn't play).

Moving to a tournament format is necessary. But it needs a better spot on the calendar.

 

[Sir Weed]

Starbucks Cup.

 

[Sudacafan]

I just checked the GPPD main page, and there’s quite an infestation of “Admit It” threads.
I believe that if the new DC format was at least half as interesting as the previous one, we would be not be as bored as we now are.

 

[blauerton]

I like the drama in the old format. What I like in the new format is the all indoor fast courts.

 

[Sudacafan]

I like the drama in the old format. What I like in the new format is the all indoor fast courts.

I didn’t know the new format will always be played on indoor fast courts.
In the old format, you could have it in any surface (indoors/outdoors) the host country wished, provided it was communicated on time.

 

[Adman]

It's ridiculous that only slams now feature 5-sets matches. Young players used to learn the ropes of a 5 setter via 5 to 6 Davis Cup matches per year.

 

[pj80]

"Pique knows nothing about tennis" - Marion Bartoli

didn't Fed say something similar?

 

[Sudacafan]

didn't Fed say something similar?

pique knows nothing about tennis - Buscar con Google

www.google.com

Seems several people said so. Hewitt among them.

 

[Sudacafan]

On top of this, I just learned that these changes would last for 25 years, as stated in the corresponding $3 bn agreement.

 

[Aabye5]

Still missing the DC, but ATP Cup has had some great matches.

 

[ibbi]

It sucks. The old format was a beautiful thing, and one of the best things in tennis.

 

[NaBUru38]

Breaking news: the group stage will be held in September, with four groups in different cities to be determined.

Davis Cup - Group stage of Davis Cup Finals moved to September

The International Tennis Federation and Kosmos Tennis have announced the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals will take place in September from 2022 onwards

www.daviscup.com

 

[Sudacafan]

Bump.
Opportunity for users who haven’t voted in the poll.
As a new year passes, I feel stronger against the changes of the DC new format, implemented since the 2019 edition.
The tweak of 2022, informed in the post above, didn’t even make things better, in my opinion.

 

[Fiero425]

We act like this is something totally new! Didn't the ladies' event, Fed Cup do this; 2 singles & 1 doubles to decide while playing several ties instead of just one?

 

[Sudacafan]

We act like this is something totally new! Didn't the ladies' event, Fed Cup do this; 2 singles & 1 doubles to decide while playing several ties instead of just one?

New to the Davis Cup, which was an event of higher category and reputation than the one you mentioned, or maybe even others you’re thinking of now.

 

[blauerton]

Delete ATP Cup and Laver Cup and just replace them with a better Davis Cup. The schedule is too demanding otherwise.

 

[NonP]

Those of U who pine for the glory days of the game's (formerly) premier team event or can't stop complaining about the new format should be able to answer this:

Mind you, I would love to keep the old format with best-of-5 intact, but we have to face present realities. It's hard to blame Fed (and I used to get on his case a lot) or other top players for neglecting DC when it demands significant year-round commitment at the (potential) expense of individual success. You just can't pin your hopes on players' whims if you're to hold a successful tournament year after year, which was basically the post-1980s/90s status quo prior to this WC-style experiment. And the DC boasts a far more extensive pedigree than the YEC, hence my proposal to downgrade or even scrap the latter lest both fall into historical irrelevance.

Say what U will about the Pique Cup but the old-school DC is NOT coming back. I'll reiterate my proposal in full:

• Total refocus of energy and attention onto the DC as THE conclusion to the season. I don't mean just merging the Davis and ATP Cups, though that's an absolute must, but also clearing out the post-YEC calendar so players can worry about nothing else leading up to the grand finale. No more BSing with this ringing-in-the-new-year nonsense.
• Ranking points awarded for participation (the same logic I put forth for the Olympics applies here). Say 250 for each match/rubber and another 250 for each W. To incentivize tour-wide participation over individual excellence we could include the zone group rounds and exclude the KO playoffs from the point distribution - most playoff teams would be motivated to win no matter what - though I'm OK with extending extra points to the KO stage which might make the event more "elitist" but no more so than the YEC (or the majors for that matter).
• Expand the World Group to 32 teams and open up the DC finals to at least that many or, even better, 36 (double the current total). Doesn't make sense to be holding a WC-style tournament but limiting the worldwide pool by half. If that's too much logistics to deal with every year then do it every 2 years.
• At least make the final best-of-5! The whole KO stage would be even better.

Barring these changes I don't see DC having a 2nd life in the 21st century. Best to go all in, now that we've taken the 1st step.

If you've got a better proposal let us hear it, but unless U can think of a feasible way to get the top guys to start participating again you're just spitting in the wind.