Novak Djokovic, representing Serbia, hasn’t experienced a Davis Cup match in his home country since 2018.
As Serbia gears up for their quarter-final showdown with Britain in Spain, Djokovic voices his opinion that the Davis Cup knockout stages should be hosted by different countries each year.
The revamped Davis Cup, since 2019, has seen its final rounds consistently held in Spanish cities. Thursday’s face-off between Serbia and Britain in Malaga, where the semi-finals and finals are also set to take place, continues this trend.
Djokovic emphasized, “This tournament spans the globe. It’s not meant to be anchored in one location for more than a year.”
The week-long event features eight nations, although Spain, surprisingly, isn’t among the qualifiers this year.
Historically, the Davis Cup, dating back to 1900, adopted a home-and-away format that often brought intensely loyal crowds but frequently missed top-tier players.
Is a return to the traditional home and away format on the cards for the Davis Cup?
This question follows a contentious overhaul of the tournament, transforming the final rounds into a grand season finale. The transformation was part of a 25-year, £2.15 billion strategy backed by Kosmos, an investment group spearheaded by ex-Spanish football star Gerard Pique.
Dubbed the “World Cup of Tennis,” the revamped event, featuring 18 teams, made its debut in Madrid in 2019, and Madrid also hosted the final stages for the 2020-21 season.
The last two editions’ ‘Final Eight’ were held at Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes Martin Carpena.
Earlier in January, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) terminated its contract with Kosmos, a partnership that lasted under five years.
Djokovic, a men’s singles champion with a record 24 Grand Slam titles, called for enhanced dialogue between the ITF and top players regarding the Davis Cup.
Djokovic, whose team hasn’t played a Davis Cup match in Serbia since 2018, remarked, “We need a voice in this. The ITF hasn’t really engaged us in conversation. There’s likely to be diverse views, but the home-and-away aspect is a Davis Cup hallmark.
“Allowing a single country to host the [Final] Eight for four years is excessive. The venue needs to rotate.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Davis Cup Finals Rotation
Why Does Novak Djokovic Want the Davis Cup Finals to Rotate Globally?
Novak Djokovic believes that the Davis Cup, being a global competition, should not be confined to one location for more than a year. He advocates for rotating the finals to different countries to maintain the international spirit of the tournament and involve more nations in hosting.
What Are the Issues with the Current Davis Cup Format?
Since its revamp in 2019, the Davis Cup finals have been held exclusively in Spanish cities. Djokovic and others feel this limits the event’s global appeal and engagement. The static location also contrasts with the historical home-and-away format that offered diverse atmospheres and wider player participation.
How Has the Davis Cup Format Changed Over the Years?
The Davis Cup, starting in 1900, originally used a home-and-away format, creating dynamic, partisan atmospheres. However, top players often missed these matches. In 2019, the format was overhauled into a season-ending event, held in a single location, as part of a 25-year plan funded by the Kosmos investment group.
What Is Novak Djokovic’s Stance on Player Involvement in Davis Cup Decisions?
Djokovic urges more communication between the ITF and top players regarding the Davis Cup format. He feels players’ opinions are crucial and currently underrepresented in decision-making processes, especially concerning the format and location of the finals.
More about Davis Cup Finals Rotation
- Davis Cup Official Website
- Novak Djokovic’s Career Highlights
- ITF Tennis: International Tennis Federation
- History of the Davis Cup
- Overview of Tennis Grand Slam Titles
5 comments
Did anyone else notice, Djokovic has 24 grand slams now, When did that happen! thats insane.
novak’s comments about ITF not listening, that’s a big deal, players need to have more say in these things, after all they are the ones playing.
rotating the finals sounds like a great idea! more countries should get a chance to host, it would be so good for the sport globally
wow, Djokovic really speaking out, about time someone did, this could really shake things up in tennis world!!
i’m not sure if changing the venue will help much, the real issue is the schedule, it’s just too packed for players.