Former world No.1 captain Lleyton Hewitt has accused tennis bosses of ‘killing’ the Davis Cup after it was reported that the competition is set to move to the Middle East.
Earlier this week The Telegraph and the BBC said sources have confirmed the Davis Cup Finals is set to be held in Abu Dhabi from 2022 as part of a five-year deal. It is expected that the International Tennis Federation will formally announce the move at the end of this year’s competition in just over a week’s time. There is no country in the Middle East that currently has a Davis Cup team ranked in the world’s top 70.
Hewitt, who now captains the Australian team, has branded the reported move as ‘ridiculous’ and has hit out at Kosmos. An investment firm founded by Spanish footballer Gerald Pique who pledged to invest $3bn into the competition over a 25-year period. The 40-year-old has been one of the most vocal critics of the Davis Cup event since it went through a dramatic transformation a couple years ago.
“I’ve only heard a rumour but I think it’s ridiculous, it’s not what Davis Cup is about,” Hewitt told the Australian Associated Press.
“The Davis Cup was held in the highest regard, up there with the pinnacle of our sport in tennis – with matches played over five sets.
“We threw that out the door and then we’ve thrown the home and away out the door as well. Playing a qualifying tie here or there, best of three sets (in the recent revamped format), is not the same as having home and away, main draw matches over the year.
“So if they’re going and selling the soul of the Davis Cup to the Middle East for another five years, I think it’s ridiculous, and they’re really killing the competition.”
Australia started their campaign in the Davis Cup Finals on Thursday with a 3-0 defeat to Croatia. Out of the three ties played, Alex de Minaur was the only player to win a set for his country before losing in three to former US Open champion Marin Cilic.
“This is a wonderful stadium here tonight, but it’s not a massive crowd, it’s not what Davis Cup is about.” Hewitt commented.
“Some of my greatest memories were playing in Davis Cup semis or finals in front of packed houses and it didn’t matter if it was in Australia or away, the atmosphere was incredible.
“We sit back, me and Tony Roche and tell these young guys stories about when we played in those situations. I’m just really disappointed now. Guys like Alex (de Minaur) would do anything to be in that situation to play in those big matches.
“I know what (the old Davis Cup) meant to the top guys, it meant the world. There is something really special about this competition.”
Hewitt has stated that he would not consider the prospect of boycotting the event to protest the changes. However, he has accused both the ITF and Kosmos of not communicating enough. Echoing similar comments which were made by British captain Leon Smith who called for there to be more dialogue earlier this week.
As for Pique’s involvement in the Davis Cup revamp, Hewitt has accused him of destroying the 121-year-old competition.
“It’s being run by a soccer player and his company and it’s completely different to anything tennis has been through in the past,” he said.
“The ITF certainly didn’t come to me and ask my thoughts or pretty much any Australian who has had pretty much the richest tradition in this competition for over 100 years.”
