Not a fan of Federer on court but off court he comes across as a pretty straight and smart guy.

 

He's self-interested as a Laver Cup investor. I only recall him playing Davis Cup once in the past seven years or something.

 

True
But overall Federer played 70 DC matches (singles and doubles), Murray 47, Djokovic 44, Nadal 34

 

We already had a team tennis tournament with best 2 out of 3 matches, with 8 teams in 2 pool round robins followed by a final.

It was called the World Team Cup. And it ended in 2012. Because nobody cared. Not sure why the ITF thinks anyone will care about a similar week long tournament when they turn Davis Cup into that. Especially when the top players still don't show up because it's eating into their offseason in November.

 

I read somewhere that the participating countries were promised a lot of money (or something to that effect), so I'm guessing it's mostly politics and somewhere along the way they hope to bootstrap the event into something profitable.

 

If all the best players showed up, it would be interesting. But don`t think they will, so probably not. Agree this is more about Fed getting in a dig to protect the tournament he backs.

 

Roger is, of course, correct. Why change the Davis Cup when it is completely fine the way it is now? All of these changes that these idiots are doing to the tour and its tournaments need to stop.

 

Roger is, of course, correct. Why change the Davis Cup when it is completely fine the way it is now?

Because it isn't.

 

The problem with the new format isn't that it is financed by a football player.

 

I can't see the Davis Cup lasting with the new format. They are playing for their countries so the people in those countries need to be involved. The crowds' cheering will be greatly missed.

 

No format will work when the players aren't interested enough. Only individual sport that seems to make a team event without money on offer work is golf. All the players there would die to play in the Ryder Cup, still in 2018. Arguably gonna be the most hyped golf event ever next month.

I think the way it could happen for tennis is a big Davis Cup(probably called something else, take the name to the grave and be happy for what it gave) only every other year. A two week thing for 32 countries or so, maybe spread around a bit the first week and then a finals venue for the second week, top-8 or so. Let the singles ranking be the determining factor for what countries qualify.

 

That's kind of a catchy phrase but, I really don't know what he's trying to say.

Anyway, I dislike the nationalistic aspect of sport, but unfortunately most people live for it and that's why the money is behind national teams competition.

 

when are they going to realize that the Davis Cup is a dead thing and nothing they bring new to the table will change that (unless they start paying big time money), for years and years top players are avoiding DC citing usual excuses like 'tiredness' pr 'not fitting the schedule' but the real reason is: with prize money constantly increasing and DC paying zero dollars, why would top players bother to show up?

and Federer better be quiet, he was always avoiding Davis Cup, why would he care what format they use?

 

The Laver Cup is the worst thing that ever happened to tennis.