JOIN USInternational Tennis Federation (ITF) vice-president Anil Khanna revealed on Thursday that a proposal to hold semfinals and final of the Davis Cup at a neutral venue is being mulled upon.
Khanna, who is also the Asian Tennis Federation president, however, said he was not in favour of the idea.
“We all know how hosting a Davis Cup tie is a costly affair and ITF is constantly looking at ways to make it more cost effective. There has been a discussion on the proposal of holding Davis Cup semifinal and final at a neutral venue. I am not in favour of this as I feel it takes away the passion which home and away system generates,” Khanna said in his address during the Davis Cup draw ceremony on Thursday.
Khanna also sought to point out in front of “opinion-maker” Rafael Nadal how the increase in prize money of Grand Slams has not trickled down to the development of tennis. “Tennis has enough money but only top 100-150 players are benefitting from it. There has been an increase in prize money for the $15,000 futures event to $25,000 but that has only led to the decrease of futures event all over the world,” Khanna said.
“From the Grand Slams profit of 500 million dollars, only two million dollars are being used for development. If one can spend 250 million dollars on constructing the roof for the US Open, at least 100 million can be directed towards the prize money of future and challenger events.”
Nadal backs WADA
The news of Russian hackers sneaking into the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) athlete database has created fresh ripples in sporting world but World No.4 Rafael Nadal, for one, has chosen to place his faith in doping agency.
The hackers published documents this week showing that three American athletes -- Simone Biles and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus -- received medical exemptions to use banned drugs. "We can't go on creating a negative image of the sport. It should be clean and should look clean. We have an anti-doping programme and I believe in it. We cannot believe all that is said. We can't make a fuss every two weeks. I believe in the anti-doping programme 100 per cent," Nadal said.
DH News Service