Alexander Zverev has said he hopes the Davis Cup will one day return back to the old format following his country’s whitewash win over Hungary.
Zverev won both of his singles matches over the weekend to guide his country to a 5-0 victory and a place in the Davis Cup finals later this year. 2019 will see 18 teams play in a week-long competition during November in what has been a controversial revamp of the historic competition. The changes were passed last August at the International Tennis Federation’s AGM meeting. The revamp has come to life with the help of company Kosmos, who has pledged to invest $3 billion over the next 25 years. The company was founded by football player Gerard Pique.
“The home game feeling is very special and I think it’s too bad that we lose it,” Zverev told German media over the weekend.
21-year-old Zverev has previously criticised the timing of the finals and have already announced that he would not play. They will take place at the end of the season after the conclusion of the ATP World Tour Finals. During the Shanghai Masters last October, Zverev blasted the scheduling as ‘crazy.’
“I think all the top guys will say the same thing. We have one and a half months off in our season, and that’s end of November and December.” He said.
“Making a tournament end of November which is 10 days* playing and competing, it’s crazy.
“By the end of the year we are all tired.”
*(Zverev was speaking before it was announced that the competition would take place over seven days).
Three months on from those comments and the German refuses to change his mind. In recent months Kosmos founder Pique has come under fire over his involvement in the competition. Lleyton Hewitt, who is the captain of the Australian team, said it was ‘mind boggling’ that the Spaniard was involved. Accusing him of a lack of knowledge about the sport.
Unlike Hewitt, Zverev has backed Pique by describing him as a ‘great guy.’ However, the friendship between the two has failed to resolve their differences concerning the Davis Cup.
“We are good friends and often talk to each other. We also had dinner together. We get along very well. He is a great guy, but there is no one in the world who will change my mind to play in Madrid. I am a grown person and have my own opinion and it will stay that way.” Zverev stated.
“I hope to win the Davis Cup in the format that has been held for the last 120 years.” He later added.
The views of Zverev are ones that have been backed by his captain Michael Kohlmann. Germany has been one of the most vocal opponents of the changes and voted against the revamp last year. Dirk Hordorff, who is the vice-president of the German tennis Federation (DTB), previously named the countries that voted for the changes. Accusing them of killing the competition.
“The association and I are not friends of this new system. I think it’s very good when people like Lleyton Hewitt or Sascha (Zverev) give a clear position. That may have an impact on decisions. Nevertheless, the game mode is different at the moment and we have to deal with it.” Said Kohlmann.
The Davis Cup finals will be held at the Caja Magic in Madrid. It will take place between 18-24 November.
