Australia’s captain Lleyton Hewitt says the Davis Cup has been hurt by changes to the annual event and labelled the finals format as “ridiculous”.
Lleyton Hewitt has savaged Spanish soccer star Gerard Pique, the man behind Davis Cup format changes, as knowing nothing about tennis.
Hewitt says Pique’s investment group Kosmos has effectively bought control of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) with a $3 billion deal.
Pique, the founder and president of Kosmos, is behind changes to the Davis Cup format which Hewitt says risk the future of the 119-year-old event.
And the Australian says Pique’s vision of turning the Davis Cup finals into an event akin to soccer’s World Cup is “ridiculous”.
“Now we’re getting run by a Spanish football player, which is like me coming out and asking to change things for the (soccer) Champions League; it’s ridiculous,” Hewitt told reporters on Tuesday in Adelaide.
“He knows nothing about tennis.”
Under’s Pique’s plan, Davis Cup finals will be rebadged as a World Cup of Tennis and be played by 18 nations in one week in Madrid this November.
“Totally different sport. And it’s not going to work in tennis,” Hewitt said.
“And it pretty much sums up right now with his group that has bought into the ITF, now they’re basically running the ITF.
“And that is why we see all the Spanish sponsors.
“And a soccer league is the main sponsor of the Davis Cup which is mind boggling.”
Hewitt will captain Australia against Bosnia and Herzegovina from Friday in Adelaide under a fresh Davis Cup format of three-set matches over two days, without home-and-away ties.
Australia is among the nations vying for 12 remaining spots in the 18-team final in Madrid.
Hewitt said the format changes “really hurt” the Davis Cup by taking away its points of difference: home-and-away ties; and matches decided by best-of-five sets.
“I don’t agree at all with it,” he said.
“I think having the finals in one place is ridiculous. I personally don’t think all the top players will play, we will wait and see.
“I have played in massive ties home and away and the ties away are tough.
“But for me the most disappointing thing is that guys like Alex (de Minaur) and Alexei (Popyrin) and these kids will never get an opportunity to play a Davis Cup final in Australia – that’s probably one of the biggest joys that I got out of my career.”
Hewitt had impressed upon his team this week – de Minaur, Popyrin, John Millman, Jordan Thompson and John Peers – not to dwell on the format change.
“These guys get the chance to represent their country and wear the green and gold and that is something these boys are really proud of,” he said.
“So we will go out there and do what we can but whether the structure and the format hold up, I have got no idea.”
johnnoo
Roar Pro
Lleyton Hewitt can go shove it he's the one out of touch here.. For years, Davis cup has had players unavailable and skipping ties over the season, changes had to be made.. Spain's Rafael Nadal supports change and said the current set up isn't working anymore. I trust rafa's views, other players are on board. Spain's Gerard Pique made a good business plan to the ITF. The ITF know more about promoting Tennis than Llyeton.. Lleyton doesn't speak for all men's tennis players.. haveing it in one week condensed will be exciting. The laver cup is a succes as is the Hopman cup.. The davis cup format was tired and stale... And with society so global now, you will get ex-pats in local communities coming out to watch eg like at the OZ open, when all the Greek fans cames out in force to cheer on Tsitsipas.. I respect and listen to spains Rafa as much as Aussie Llyeton Hewitt. Spain's Gergard pique sold a good offer to the ITF and the proposal got the support coz it was good..
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I was pretty unsurprised to hear that no tennis player was on the board who made the decision to change to this format. I’m yet to hear of a tennis fan that likes this...
tsuru
Roar Rookie
I largely agree with Hewitt here. I have written here before, and it connects with what he says about playing a final in front of your home crowd, that the biggest losers under the new format will be all those ardent fans in "2nd tier" countries who will now never get to see live important matches between their own team and some of the big guns when their guys have won through a couple of early rounds. I know that often the big guns don't play in Davis Cup, or at least in early rounds, but fans in countries away from the normal ATP tour roll up to support their team and provide great atmosphere, particularly when there is some chance of an upset. I'm sure Hewitt has stories of electric atmosphere playing in Davis Cup matches in places he otherwise wouldn't have gone to. “I have played in massive ties home and away and the ties away are tough." I didn't know about the "Kosmos" connection. I had heard only about meetings late last year to consider/approve the new format. If his judgment of the push behind the format is accurate then it's disappointing to think the ITF would sell out a series with such history.