The CEO of the International Tennis Federation believes there is strong support for the Davis Cup’s current format, but he is open to discussing changes in the future.
Ross Hutchins, who took on the role just last month, says the events Finals in Malaga over the past three years have been ‘very successful.’ The Davis Cup has undergone various changes in recent years, following a decision to remove the tradition of home-and-away ties in 2019. A move that has split opinion in the sport, with traditionalists calling for the old format to be brought back.
Under the current structure, the top tier of the competition is made up of 26 nations – 14 ranked 3rd-16th from the 2024 Finals and the 12 winners from World Group 1. They took part in 13 home-or-away ties with the winners progressing to the Qualifiers second round, as well as the 2024 runners-up. Then, in the second round, the seven winners progressed to this week’s finals along with the host nation.
“The nations are the ones that we also have to listen to and there’s been huge support,” Hutchins told the Reuters news agency.
“More players have played this year than ever before … a huge amount of nations are participating in this competition and therefore, we have to embrace that side of the thinking as well.
“We do have close relationships with the other governing bodies in tennis. We do have close relationships with players. We’re willing to have the conversation across anything that comes to their minds.”
Despite Hutchins’ assurances that there is plenty of support for the team event, some of the sport’s biggest names have publicly called for change. Carlos Alcaraz, who has pulled out of the Davis Cup finals due to injury, believes the event shouldn’t be held every year in order to attract more top names to the event. The world No.1 added that such a proposal would make the event more ‘unique’ in his view.
Jannik Sinner has also echoed a similar perspective, telling reporters at the ATP Finals he believes it is difficult to attract the top names to the Davis Cup each year. The Italian is skipping the event in order to have an extra off-season.
The only top 10 player participating in this year’s Finals is Alexander Zverev, who is another critic.
“The true Davis Cup is the home-and-away ties,” Zverev recently said.
“In a way, yeah, the real Davis Cup is the atmosphere. To play against Italy in Italy, it would be a completely different atmosphere than playing Italy in Spain. I played against Nadal in a bullfighting arena. That’s for me the real Davis Cup.
“I always keep my opinion. I always said my opinion over the last couple years. I don’t think this Davis Cup is the real Davis Cup. It’s an exhibition tournament in a way that is called Davis Cup.”
Speaking about the absence of some top names, Hutchins argues that he has not had any negative impact. World No.8 Lorenzo Musetti is another player absent due to physical and family reasons.
“I don’t think it’s dampened the enthusiasm,” he said.
“Player withdrawals happen regularly, whether it’s at the major events or the ATP Finals or throughout the year. Injuries happen. You can’t really account for what happened to Carlos, unfortunately, recently.
“Jannik, what a few years he’s having … non-stop finals every single week. Huge credit to him and Carlos. I don’t think it’s dampened spirits. It’s a team competition and nations and captains are passionate about their teams.
“That’s what’s so special about this competition … the enormity of this event, the history of this event and the team element of this event. Everyone’s super excited.”
On the opening day of the Davis Cup Finals on Tuesday, Belgium stunned France 2-0. They will next play either Italy or Austria, who will play their tie later today.
