I think that most tennis enthusiasts will have fond memories of the Davis Cup. Even if they can’t pinpoint a specific match, they will remember the combustible matches that felt like pay-per-view prizefights.
Things have changed. I’m going to let you in on a little secret: the Davis Cup Finals are currently underway in Bologna. The formerly prestigious team event has faded into obscurity. Controversial figure Alex Zverev summed it up perfectly, referring to it as ‘an exhibition tournament that is called the Davis Cup’. Brutal. And this coming from the only top-ten player competing in Bologna this week. I just want to offer a few suggestions that could help the tournament rediscover its mojo.
Best-of-5 sets isn’t the answer
Many have decried the 2019 decision to revert to a best-of-3 set format, feeling that it took away from the prestige of the event. A newsflash to all those people: the Davis Cup was well on its way to losing relevance prior to 2019. One look at the Masters 1000 events and the ATP Finals will tell you that the best-of-3 set format is a viable commodity. The tennis calendar is absolutely jammed now, with new initiatives like the United Cup and Laver Cup just adding to the scheduling chaos. I don’t think reverting to five sets is going to convince the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner to prolong their insane schedule (regardless of the nostalgia that some might have for that format).
Home and away legs are essential
The decision to do away with home and away legs in the latter portion of the tournament has been far more damaging to the integrity of the competition. The pressure-cooker atmosphere of either playing in front of expectant fans or going into the lions’ den was the selling point of the entire Davis Cup experiment. This is exactly what Zverev was alluding to by calling the Davis Cup a glorified exhibition event. Now, the top eight sides compete in one arena. That means that any tie this week not featuring Italy will be played at a neutral venue! That just feels completely contrary to the entire spirit of this once treasured institution.
The tournament still uses home and away legs during it’s other phases. Why abandon it for the climax? I understand that there are logistical issues with travel, etc. But how about this: have only the semifinals and final played in the decisive week of the competition. The top four teams can be seeded for the final week (the seeding can either be determined by performances in the lead-in ties or historical Davis Cup criteria). The semifinals can be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the top-two seeded teams hosting the 3rd and 4th seeds. The final can be played over the weekend, with the highest remaining seed taking over hosting duties. That way, there will be no neutral ties during the business end of proceedings. Also, it could incentivize participation amongst the top players: Alcaraz would have been far more likely to participate if there was a decent chance he played in Madrid this week.
Make it feel special
But as I have already said, the problems with the Davis Cup existed well before the 2019 changes. The fundamental issue is that players are not willing to sacrifice other key events to accommodate it. So, while I would reinstate the home and away dimension to the Davis Cup finals week, I would also make a drastic change in the scheduling. Djokovic has recently made statements echoing those made by McEnroe back in 2010: there is no need for the Davis Cup to be a yearly enterprise. Imagine the Ryder Cup happened every year. Victorious teams would barely have a moment to revel in their glory while the losers wouldn’t be able to stew in defeat. I honestly think that playing the Davis Cup every two years would elevate its standing.
The earlier, the better
I also think its actual positioning in the current calendar is slightly ludicrous. The Grand Slams are the grandaddy money spinners and must get preference. Why not delay the Asian Swing by one week and wedge the finals a few weeks after the US Open? Players don’t have Slams to protect post-New York. Sure, some of the ATP Finals bubble-boys may think twice about it. But the guys safely ensconced in the top four or five might take that risk (especially if it is played every two years). Alcaraz was never going to play in Bologna after that ATP Finals (hamstring be damned). He is chasing a career Grand Slam in Melbourne and isn’t going to let anything get in the way of that.
I think one thing we can all agree on is that something needs to change. Italy are on the cusp of history, looking to become the first side in 53 years to win three Davis Cups on the bounce (it’s not easy to achieve in this expanded format). But nobody seems to care.
XC
