JOIN USThe proposed World Cup of tennis in one week is a "horrible idea" since it will takes away the charm of home and away ties which allows countries like India to host players such as Rafael Nadal, feels former India captain Anand Amritraj.
The ITF Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the proposal to create a season-ending World Cup of Tennis finals featuring 18 nations. The matches will be played over a week at a single venue in the traditional week of Davis Cup final in November.
The idea will be put to vote at the ITF AGM in August in Orlando and needs two-third majority to become a reality.
"The World Cup of Tennis in the proposed one week format is a horrible idea. If this is being floated by ITF President Dave Haggerty to keep the top players happy, as well as for some financial gain, that's even worse," Amritraj told PTI.
The Finals will feature a round-robin format followed by a knockout stage. Each tie will consist of two singles and one doubles over best-of-three sets.
The 16 World Group nations will automatically qualify for the Finals, and a further two countries will be selected.
Among active international stars, Lleyton Hewitt has criticised the idea by saying that the ITF is trying to "kill off" home and away ties, five-set tennis and the "unbelievable atmosphere" the event generates.
However, according to ITF president Haggerty, top players such as Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have supported their idea.
Amritraj said the tournament is bigger than players and should not be diluted.
"The Davis Cup, and tennis in general, is much bigger than a few legends, who, like the greats before them, will soon be gone. To change a 118-year-old format so drastically is such a bad move.
"The whole charm of the Davis Cup is the home and away matches. In an away tie, you had to contend with adverse conditions, such as extreme cold or searing heat, noisy and sometimes hostile crowds, bands playing and five set matches over three days. You had to fight hard and keep your cool, and somehow try to find a way to win.
"I did it for 20 years, sometimes under terrible conditions, so I do know what it takes. In home ties, the opposing team sends their best players to make sure of a win.
"That's why, over the years, the Indian public has been able to see top players like Goran Ivanisevic and John Alexander, and more recently, (Rafael) Nadal and (David) Ferrer. This would certainly not happen if the Davis Cup was played over one week in some far away city," Amritraj said.
The 66-year-old said the one-week format has been tried in the past in Germany, but it should not be implemented in Davis Cup.
So what are the alternatives to keep the tournament, established in 1900, relevant?
"Let's go back to the 1970s, when the world was divided into four zones, the Asian Zone, the American Zone and European Zones A and B. All countries would play in their respective zones, with the four winners playing in the semifinal, followed by the final. That way, the players would not have to travel far, each playing in their own continent, with the top stars possibly coming out only for the semis and final."