Former French Open champion Yannick Noah has become the latest person to hit out at plans to change the format of the Davis Cup.
Later this year a vote will be held concerning an ITF plan to change the team competition to a week-long tournament taking place at the end of the season. It has already been confirmed that investment company Kosmos will invest £3 billion over 25 years should it be given the green light. Kosmos was founded by Barcelona F.C. footballer Gerard Pique.
The proposal has divided the world of tennis with some deeming it too radical. Should it go ahead, home and away ties will be removed from the competition for the first time in its 118-year history. Something that has angered the likes of Lleyton Hewitt, Jan Kodes and the Belgium Tennis Federation. All of whom has stated their opposition to the plan.
Weighing in on the criticism is French Davis Cup captain Yannick Noah, who guided his team to the title last year. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the 57-year-old fears the changes could ‘kill’ the Davis Cup.
“This measure is too radical and will kill in my opinion the soul and essence of the Davis Cup.” L’Equipe reported Noah saying.
“For me it will be a little circus. The leaders were forced to make a radical decision because some players have forgotten the history of the Davis Cup.”
Yannick has praised his fellow countrymen for their commitment to the competition. France will take on Italy next week in the quarter-finals. Lucas Pouille, Adrian Mannarino, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Jeremy Chardy and Nicolas Mahut will represent the French team.
“When our (the French) No. 1 says that his priority goes to the Davis Cup, it is the spirit that would have saved the event as it was.” Said Noah.
“Some players prefer to play exhibitions or events with more remuneration, it is their choice. The Davis Cup suffers. It’s the money that decides.”
It is understood that the president of French Tennis, Bernard Giudicelli, has backed the plans. Going at odds with some of the people he is charge of. Giudicelli will have a vote in the reform plans. Something Noah doesn’t support.
“We disagree. They (heads of tennis federations) are the ones who decide. Everyone does their job. At this point, we cannot do more.” He said.
The Davis Cup reform vote will take place in August. It requires at least two thirds approval in order for it to go ahead.
How has the tennis community reacted?
Lleyton Hewitt (via The Australian newspaper)
“The (proposed) competition is not the Davis Cup. You can’t call this the Davis Cup. You can ask anyone for the past 50 years who has played the Davis Cup and (this proposal) is not what it is about, nor what it should be about.”
Marin Cilic (via The Tennis Podcast)
“I think it will bring more attention to Davis Cup, everyone will be much more involved rather than just two teams and it will create a nice vibe.”
Jan Kodes (statement sent to Ubitennis)
“If the new Davis Cup format will be confirmed at the ITF general meeting this year, that could be the most stupid decision in sporting history.”
Alex de Minaur
“I’m completely against it. I think it’s a way to ruin a competition with an amazing amount of history. I’m not for it.” He told reporters.
Novak Djokovic (via Le Parisen)
“This is fantastic news! We all want to play for our country, but I have been saying for years that the current format does not work. The proof, the best players are increasingly rare to participate regularly. I did it for years, I went after reaching the final rounds in Grand Slams. Each time you tell yourself that it is not reasonable. Changing the format of the Davis Cup is a decision that many have been waiting for.”
André Stein, president of Belgian tennis
“We are absolutely against and will vote against.This formula is precisely what we do not want, because Belgium will never have the means to organize such a competition, so our public and our partners would see the already rare opportunities to see the best Belgian players in action fall away.”
