The director of the French Open has hit out at the ATP over their plans to reintroduce a team tournament that could rival the Davis Cup.
Guy Forget has branded the movement by the governing body of men’s tennis as ‘dangerous.’ It is understood that the ATP is set to revive the World Team Cup following talks with Tennis Australia. An event that was discontinued back in 2012 after 37 years. Although the official plans are yet to be confirmed, it is reported that it will take place during the first week of the year from 2020.
The reintroduction of the World Team Cup comes as the ITF puts forward their own plans to turn the Davis Cup into a similar format. Set to go to a vote later this year, the ITF wants to turn the tournament into a 18-team event that would take place over one week. It has already secured financial backing of $3bn over 25 years from investment company Kosmos. Which was founded by Barcelona F.C. footballer Gerard Pique. Critics have voiced opposition to the plans over the removal of home and away ties. An aspect that has been part of the competition for 118 years.
Should both events go ahead, there is a possibility that they will only be separated by a couple of months. The Davis Cup finale could be staged at the end of the season. Speaking about the developments, former world No.4 Forget has accused the ATP of threatening the existence of the Davis Cup.
“We could end up with two strictly identical competitions a few weeks apart, which I think would be dangerous,” Forget told reporters on Tuesday.
“There is no place in the calendar to have two competitions of this kind. Whatever the format of the Davis Cup, I hope it will have the edge.”
Trying to integrate two team competition within the same season is one that has been met with skepticism from some players on the tour. Former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic has said that it is inevitable that one competition with overwhelm the other.
“They will compete, but one’s going to end up swallowing the other eventually. Because I don’t think in any sport two team competitions, other than something as big as soccer, really survive.” Said Raonic.
Jamie Murray, who was part of the winning British team in the 2015 Davis Cup, believes the ATP has an advantage over the Davis Cup. Saying that the timing and potential ranking points will be a pull factor for many players.
“It’s in January, so it makes sense for all the players to be playing that tournament in the lead-up to the Australian Open. There will obviously be ATP points available as well, and potentially more money on the table for the players,” Murray told BBC Sport.
The ATP is set to announce their plans for the World Cup of tennis in the near future. Meanwhile, the Davis Cup vote till take place in August. If approved, the first competition could occur in 2019.
