If the ATP sticks to its "announced plan for a World Team Cup," the November '19 Davis Cup would be followed in January '20 -- or even December '19 -- by a 24-nation, $15M team event that "would open the season in Australia," according to the Christopher Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. This is tennis at its "most dysfunctional, which is quite an achievement considering all the discord and cross purposes in the sport’s past." But the second glance "could still provide quite a different look." The ITF's decision to back a radical Davis Cup overhaul, which was approved last week, "came as a surprise to many, particularly because it came without the express support of the players." Now that the deal has been "approved after plenty of promises and despite fierce opposition, the ATP’s World Team Cup project could be in jeopardy if exit clauses exist (and are activated) in the contract with Tennis Australia." ITF President David Haggerty "hopes to renew discussions" with ATP Exec Chair & President Chris Kermode "on a compromise." More likely is that the "two similar events wrestle for market share and talent, with the strongest surviving and the weakest disappearing or switching dates in an attempt to hack out a better place in a tennis calendar that looks ever more like a thicket." What tennis "really needs" is a "clear path for the sport and its fans to follow in an extremely competitive entertainment landscape" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/18).
SPEAKING OUT: The PA's Andy Sims noted former British tennis player Greg Rusedski "hit out at the proposed changes to the Davis Cup." Rusedski said, "There needed to be changes but I'm not a fan of what they've proposed. Guys are always complaining they are tired at the end of the year. So where is it put? Slap bang right after the ATP Finals. Rafael Nadal says he wants to shut up shop, Roger Federer says he needs to go on holiday, and they're going to play five matches back-to-back in a week, the day after the end-of-season championships?" He added, "The investment is fantastic news. But is the concept right? I'm not so sure" (PA, 8/17).
