The fallout from the proposed plans for the Davis Cup continues to be a hotly debated subject at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Last week the International Tennis Federation (ITF) unveiled their vision for a world cup of tennis. Which will see a 18-team tournament play over one week once a year. Since the announcement, there has been a mixed response. Novak Djokovic has welcomed the idea, but the Belgian Tennis Federation has vowed to vote against the plan.
The latest player to weigh in on the debate is former US Open champion Marin Cilic. Speaking to The Tennis Podcast, the Croat believes it will help generate more involvement and interest in the competition. Cilic has played in 22 Davis Cup ties so far in his career and has won more singles matches (24) than any other player from his country.
“Players have been trying to talk to the ITF, and there have been so many conversations for the last 10 years to change Davis Cup because it’s just too difficult for players to play four weeks of the year, and every single year,” he told The Tennis Podcast.
“There have been many conversations about how to change things — maybe the scoring system, or to have it every two years. This news that we can have it all in a one week tournament is incredibly good and valuable.
“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.”
Should the plan get approved, it would mean an extra week added to an already lengthy ATP calendar. Although Cilic doesn’t see this as a problem. Instead, he argues that the changes would give more players breaks throughout the season. Under the current system, players could play up to four times a year in the event.
“People say it will make the season longer by having it in November, but actually by doing it this way you are giving players three weeks off in a year.” Explained Cilic.
“It will reduce the requirements from four weeks to one. I think 99.9 percent of players will want this new system.”
The other view
Despite the endorsement of the world No.3, not all players are as enthusiastic. Australian rising star Alex de Minaur was very blunt with his opinion. On Friday the 19-year-old defeated Jan-Lennard Struff to get his first main draw win in a Masters 1000 tournament at Indian Wells.
“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.
Australia has been one of the most vocal opponents of the revamp with a series of former legends speaking against it. Lleyton Hewitt, who occasionally mentors De Minaur, has retweeted a series of critical articles about the plans on his social media account. Meanwhile, Todd Woodbridge has described it as a ‘bomb being thrown into the tennis landscape.’
In August the purposed world cup of tennis will be debated at the ITF AGM. It will require support of at least two thirds of attendees to go ahead with the first tournament potentially occurring next year.
