Feliciano Lopez believes no team event on the Tour should be awarding ranking points as it creates an unfair system in the sport.
The 41-year-old spoke out about the topic during an interview with Punto de Break when asked if the Davis Cup should look into the possibility of doing so. Those arguing in favor of the move believe it would help attract more top names to participate, especially at the end of the year when the finals are played. Points were previously awarded at the event between 2009-2015.
However, Lopez has voiced his opposition to the idea. During his playing career, he represented Spain in 31 ties and played a total of 42 matches. Earlier this year, he was appointed as the new tournament director for the Davis Cup Finals will be held in Malaga. However, the eight-team finale will not feature hosts Spain as they have failed to qualify.
“I don’t think team competitions should offer points, I have always been against this idea. Neither the Davis Cup nor any other competition,” he said.
“For example, I don’t think the United Cup should give points or the old ATP Cup. It is unfair treatment compared to the other tournaments that are played that week, where you can never earn the same points as playing a team competition, where you can face a player who is #500 and win more points than another who wins that week against a top50 and gets 20 points. I am not in favor of points in team competitions.”
Continuing his argument, the former world No.12 says when points were previously awarded it had little impact on attracting top names to the event. Although the format has changed considerably since then. Instead, it should be the events history and experience of representing your country that should be the main attraction for players.
“You cannot give the Davis Cup the points that you give in a Masters 1000 or a tournament of that level, it is not comparable, it does not make sense,” Lopez explained.
“This competition is a hundred years old (Davis Cup was founded in 1900), the best players in the world have played it, we must make people see what this tournament means. Little by little they will understand it, any young player who has lived this experience I am sure that he will not forget it. The calendar is what it is, but not for the Davis Cup, it is a problem in general for the world of tennis.”
Speaking about the format of the event, Lopez admits that changes in recent years have made it tougher for fans ‘to identify’ with the Davis Cup. Although he described the current structure as ‘positive’ before adding that there are both ‘good and bad things.’
One of these bad things was brought up by Stan Wawrinka earlier in the week when he posted a video showing plenty of empty seats for his country’s tie against Switzerland. Which was played in Scotland on Wednesday afternoon.
“Playing in an empty stadium is perhaps the worst part of the current moment we are experiencing with the new format, the fact of only having an incredible atmosphere when the home country plays,’ Lopez admits.
“It happened to us (Spain) during two years in Madrid, in our case, we have been very lucky because since the change we have always been able to play in Spain. Of course, going to play the Davis Cup in another country in an empty stadium… I understand that it shouldn’t be like that. That is why we are open to continuing to evolve with this format so that this happens as little as possible. But it is not so easy.”
Wawrinka has also claimed that the International Tennis Federation has paid people to support the Davis Cup and make noise during the ties. It is unclear if he was referring specifically to the bands or anybody else. Lopez was not asked about this claim during his interview.
The Davis Cup Finals will take place in November.
