Scott 5Tennis World Cup Proposal
January 15th 2010 07:01
So anyway there has been a proposal from James Hird's company Gemba with regards to the creation of a new Tennis World Cup concept.
The proposal is as follows:
- 32 teams
- 10 day tournament
- Shorter matches
- Less time between points
- 3 man teams with substitutes midmatch
Now it would appear that some of the players such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in favour of this concept (to be held once every 2 years) as it would help to shorten the season for the men. As for Andy Murray he says he'll only support it as long as it's in place of, rather than as well as, the Davis Cup.
This is however the sticking point. What would happen to the Davis Cup???
I make no secret that I am a traditionalist and when something is proposaed which affects the game I love or an event that is steeped in tradition, I get a little iffy about it.
I mean, look at the Davis Cup. It started in 1899 as a competition between Britain and America but then expanded with various format changes into the current format it is today (World Group of 16 teams and the rest in Europe/Africa Zone, Asia/Oceania, Americas Groups I, II, III or IV)
Who could forget some of the best moments in Davis Cup history?
- 1995 Pete Sampras playing on his least favourite surface (red clay) and won all 3 games and the USA the Davis Cup.
- 2003 Mark Phillippoussis playing a crucial match against Juan Carlos Ferrerro. After winning the first 2 sets, Phillippoussis lost the next 2 sets and then won the 5th 6-0 to deliver Australia it's 28th Davis Cup title.
- 1950-1967 Australia winning the Davis Cup 15 times in 18 years.
These are the sorts of things that make the Davis Cup the event it is today. This is what the Davis Cup is all about. Miracle comebacks, great eras, worlds best players etc.
Did you know that the Davis Cup is what led France, Britain, Australia and the USA to host a major? Reason is that until 1974 these 4 nations were the only ones that had won the Davis Cup. That in my book carrires some history all on its own.
This is quite a lot of history that could suddenly disappear if this Tennis World Cup gets the go-ahead.
As much as it hurts, the Tennis World Cup (held every 2 years) is the way forward for the sport of Tennis. At the present moment Spain are dominating the Davis Cup and not many nations can win the tournament. There's something like 130 countries (estimated) playing Davis Cup and many of the 130 are stuck in the backwater of Group II, III or IV. So why not give those sorts of nations the chance to make a World Cup and show what they're capable of.
In my view, this would attract some great TV audiences and the money that could be made off such a concept is unthinkable. If marketed and promoted correctly, this would be a real winner for the sport of Tennis. It's time to move onto a new stage and this World Cup proposal would help with that aim.
5 sites contributed to the posting of this article
Davis Cup - Wikipedia
Davis Cup Moments: From Sampras to Smith - ESPN.com
2009 Davis Cup - Wikipedia
2003 Davis Cup - Wikipedia
Davis Cup may soon be yesterday's news - Sydney Morning Herald
The proposal is as follows:
- 32 teams
- 10 day tournament
- Shorter matches
- Less time between points
- 3 man teams with substitutes midmatch
Now it would appear that some of the players such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in favour of this concept (to be held once every 2 years) as it would help to shorten the season for the men. As for Andy Murray he says he'll only support it as long as it's in place of, rather than as well as, the Davis Cup.
This is however the sticking point. What would happen to the Davis Cup???
I make no secret that I am a traditionalist and when something is proposaed which affects the game I love or an event that is steeped in tradition, I get a little iffy about it.
I mean, look at the Davis Cup. It started in 1899 as a competition between Britain and America but then expanded with various format changes into the current format it is today (World Group of 16 teams and the rest in Europe/Africa Zone, Asia/Oceania, Americas Groups I, II, III or IV)
Who could forget some of the best moments in Davis Cup history?
- 1995 Pete Sampras playing on his least favourite surface (red clay) and won all 3 games and the USA the Davis Cup.
- 2003 Mark Phillippoussis playing a crucial match against Juan Carlos Ferrerro. After winning the first 2 sets, Phillippoussis lost the next 2 sets and then won the 5th 6-0 to deliver Australia it's 28th Davis Cup title.
- 1950-1967 Australia winning the Davis Cup 15 times in 18 years.
These are the sorts of things that make the Davis Cup the event it is today. This is what the Davis Cup is all about. Miracle comebacks, great eras, worlds best players etc.
Did you know that the Davis Cup is what led France, Britain, Australia and the USA to host a major? Reason is that until 1974 these 4 nations were the only ones that had won the Davis Cup. That in my book carrires some history all on its own.
This is quite a lot of history that could suddenly disappear if this Tennis World Cup gets the go-ahead.
As much as it hurts, the Tennis World Cup (held every 2 years) is the way forward for the sport of Tennis. At the present moment Spain are dominating the Davis Cup and not many nations can win the tournament. There's something like 130 countries (estimated) playing Davis Cup and many of the 130 are stuck in the backwater of Group II, III or IV. So why not give those sorts of nations the chance to make a World Cup and show what they're capable of.
In my view, this would attract some great TV audiences and the money that could be made off such a concept is unthinkable. If marketed and promoted correctly, this would be a real winner for the sport of Tennis. It's time to move onto a new stage and this World Cup proposal would help with that aim.
5 sites contributed to the posting of this article
Davis Cup - Wikipedia
Davis Cup Moments: From Sampras to Smith - ESPN.com
2009 Davis Cup - Wikipedia
2003 Davis Cup - Wikipedia
Davis Cup may soon be yesterday's news - Sydney Morning Herald
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