Proposed Davis Cup and Fed Cup changes irk players

An International Tennis Federation proposal for major changes to the Davis Cup and Fed Cup competitions has been met with mixed reactions.

The ITF want the finals of the elite team competitions to be combined and played at a neutral venue from 2018, with the Switzerland city of Geneva selected.

“The creation of the World Cup of Tennis finals is at the heart of a series of reforms that represent the most significant changes in the history of Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas,” ITF president David Haggerty said in a statement.

“Change is needed to ensure that we maximise the full potential of these iconic and historic competitions. We’ve consulted widely and listened carefully, and believe we will deliver an exceptional new event for fans, players and nations.

“By providing Geneva with a full year to organise and promote the event, it will be able to fully maximise the competition’s potential, elevating venue and hosting standards to a consistent Grand Slam level and delivering the very best athlete and fan experience.”

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But Brazilian Bruno Soares, a five-time doubles Grand Slam champion who has played 16 Davis Cup ties, is opposing the changes.

Very tough for players to get back on Davis Cup mode when ITF itself is slowly killing the competition. #badchanges #daviscup

— Bruno Soares (@BrunoSoares82) June 28, 2017

Sam Groth, a member of the Australian team that will contest a Davis Cup semifinal in September, also voiced his disapproval.

Have the @ITF_Tennis lost the plot with these @DavisCup reforms?

— Sam Groth (@SamGrothTennis) June 28, 2017

But former world No.1 Martina Navratilova, who played 25 Fed Cup ties during her illustrious career, claimed she could understand why the changes had been proposed.

“I’m ambivalent about this because I know women can stand on their own, but it may be for the good of the game. This may be a great idea,” Navratilova told The New York Times.

The proposal will be voted on at the ITF annual general meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in August.

The introduction of a neutral final venue is just one of many changes that will be reviewed at the meeting.