Categories: ATPDavis CupTop Story

Djokovic: Something is dodgy in current Davis format

With only three days to prepare after winning the ATP Finals in Turin, Novak Djokovic  is finding the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga as something of an anticlimax.

The Serb’s dis-satisfaction stems from the quirky format of the current tournament iteration, with the classic home-and-away standard completely obliterated in the Spanish-run event.

The world No. 1 was not shy about giving his opinion on what needs to change – despite the ITF insisting that nothing will.

” I think the best format would be something in between the old and the new,” the 36-year-old said prior to his nation’s knockout match on Thursday against underdog Britain.

“The fact that we have not played in Serbia for many years is not good, we do not give the people of Serbia the opportunity to see us play, especially the younger ones. 

‘I think a home tie helps the (Serb) Federation.”

Djokovic cannot pin down his perfect set of changes, but has an idea on what might work.

“(Davis Cup discussions should) not be held behind closed doors. So far no one from the ITF has contacted us (players). 

“This is something that should be changed; we are an integral part of the competition and we can provide very interesting information.”

Djokovic then got straight to the point: “Home and away ties are something that has made the Davis Cup famous. 

“Giving a country (Spain) the chance to host the Finals for five years in a row… is a bit much, in my opinion. 

“The tournament has to travel. It is a competition that is played at a global level. “I feel like if we’re going to have a Final Four or a Final Eight, he should travel every year, not stay in one place for more than a year.”

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Zverev cuts off Chilean charge in Rome

Alexander Zverev woke up after crashing in the opening set to end the upset hopes…

11 hours ago

Djoko in the dumps; vents to Kyrgios

Novak Djokovic admits he's running low on tennis enthusiasm as the deflated No.1 struggles through one…

11 hours ago

Ongoing scheduling money-grab draws fire from Tsitsipas

The current debacle of extending Masters 1000 events from a week to nearly two has…

16 hours ago

RG cops heat for killing Thiem wild card dream

Roland Garros bosses have been roasted on social media and elsewhere in tennis after refusing to…

16 hours ago

Unorthodox Murray dips into his pocket in racquet search

Andy Murray has gone against the grain by putting his hand into his pocket to…

16 hours ago

Swiatek on the cusp of another record

Iga Swiatek stands one Saturday win away from completing the Madrid-Rome clay trophy double after…

1 day ago