ITF defends 110-year-old Davis Cup amid proposal for a 10-day World Cup-style tournament

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ITF defends Davis Cup amid World Cup proposal

LONDON — The International Tennis Federation defended its Davis Cup competition on Wednesday following a proposal by leading men’s players for a World Cup-style tournament.

Serbian player Novak Djokovic, who is on the ATP Player Council along with top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal, said “we proposed it … but it’s all fresh and it’s all ideas.”

The World Cup would likely be a 10-day biennial tournament with 32 teams, played at a single venue. It would feature several rule changes, including mandatory substitutions during a match.

“This proposal, also shown to the ITF, has some interesting elements and, of course, timely branding, given the current worldwide fascination with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It also has many challenges that must be faced if it is to succeed,” the ITF said in a statement. “Everyone is in agreement that a nation vs. nation format is very attractive, something Davis Cup has recognized for over a century, and only time will tell if a new competition can earn a regular place in the tennis calendar.”

The 110-year-old Davis Cup pits countries against each other on several weekends during the tennis season. Many top players skip Davis Cup to take time off during the packed tennis calendar.

Djokovic said all sides would be considered before a decision was made.

“The main point is that we are trying to make the sport improve,” Djokovic said. “The players are the ones who are making the show and their opinions have to be greatly considered.”

Djokovic said discussions were only at a very preliminary stage and he expected dialogue among players, player representatives and tournament organizers to continue at the Australian Open in Melbourne, which starts Monday.

Each team would be required to use at least two players per five-set match. The World Cup would feature a clock giving players a maximum 25 seconds between points and tiebreakers would be won by the first team to five, according to The Times of London. Also, the 32 teams would be split into eight groups of four, with the top two advancing to the knockout rounds.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley issued a two-sentence statement to the Associated Press on Thursday.

“We think the concept is innovative, refreshing and thoughtfully put together,” he said. “Any initiative that will further expose our sport and will grow its participation, particularly in Australia but also worldwide, has to be great for tennis.”

British player Andy Murray seemed to be intrigued by the proposal.

“I am a great fan of the Davis Cup, but if a decision was taken to drop it, or something else could change in the calendar, then a World Cup is a fascinating idea,” Murray told The Times.

The Davis Cup has weathered other major changes in the game, including the move to professionalism in 1968 and the advent of the ATP tour.

“While Davis Cup has evolved and modernized over the years, it has not lost its intrinsic values based around the home-and-away format that attracts great support from fans, sponsors, television and the players themselves who enjoy playing in front of their home country fans,” the ITF said.

The ITF also noted that it has a five-year contract with the ATP World Tour “guaranteeing dates and ranking points.”

The concept is being pitched by gemba, a Melbourne-based marketing and sponsorship firm. Spokesman James Hird was traveling to Los Angeles and unavailable for comment, the company said.

The idea has been shown to organizers of three of the four tennis Grand Slam events.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley told The Times he thought the concept was innovative and would help grow participation in the sport.

Tiley was not immediately available for further comment on Thursday, four days ahead of the season’s first major.

AP Sports Writer John Pye in Melbourne, Australia contributed to this report.