Djokovic warns of ‘saturation’ over rival team events

LONDON — Novak Djokovic fears staging a revamped Davis Cup finals and a revived ATP World Team Cup weeks apart could hurt the sport and result in creating two “average” events.

Tennis’s world governing body the ITF was given the green light in August to launch a new Davis Cup format next year, culminating in an 18-nation finals week to be held at the end of November in Madrid.

Several leading players, including Djokovic, have questioned the timing of the ITF’s flagship event, coming at the end of a gruelling 11-month season and Germany’s Alexander Zverev said this week he would not play in the showpiece finals.

The ATP, the governing body of the men’s game, are behind plans for a rival World Team Cup. 

On Thursday the ATP’s chief Chris Kermode and Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley, together with ATP Player Council President Djokovic, will hold a news conference in London to launch the World Team Cup which is set to start in January 2020.

The ATP’s competition, to be staged in Australia before the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, will feature 24 teams, offer $15 million in prize money and ranking points.

With the ITF and ATP on collision course and both seemingly determined to push ahead with their rival events, Djokovic believes it could end up being damaging for the sport.

“Obviously the Davis Cup and World Team Cup situation is delicate,” Djokovic told reporters after his 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Zverev at the ATP Finals on Wednesday.

“We find ourselves in this kind of particular circumstances and situations that we have to deal with right now.

“I think in the next two years we’ll have both events happening in a very similar format if not the same, six weeks apart. I honestly don’t think it’s good for the sport.”

The 118-year-old Davis Cup has been diluted somewhat by leading players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal picking and choosing when they commit to the event.

Its new format — launched with the backing of investment group Kosmos led by Spanish international footballer Gerard Pique, is designed to raise its profile with Madrid being chosen as the first host city for the 18 competing nations.

Djokovic, who helped Serbia win the title in 2010, is not convinced the two new events can survive.

“I think it’s not sustainable. It will happen that we will have two average events. So I think creating one event is an ideal scenario and I think outcome for everyone,” he said.

“From what I’ve heard from conversations with people from all of the sides, different sides in this sport, they all want to have one event because it’s over-saturated with different cups, different events.

“We have to try to focus on quality rather than quantity.”

Djokovic also voiced frustration with the various governing bodies, including the ATP.

“I think the majority really care about this sport deeply, whoever is involved. Sometimes our differences get in the way,” he said. “Whether I think the structure of the ATP specifically can be better, I actually do.

“I don’t think it’s working very well, to be honest.”

Zverev labelled the length of the tennis season “ridiculous” after appearing to run out of steam against Djokovic on Wednesday.

“The issue is that our season is way too long. That’s the issue. But I’ve said it before,” Zverev, whose 55 match wins this year is more than any other player, told reporters.

“We play for 11 months a year. That’s ridiculous. No other professional sport does that.”

Despite being widely-tipped as a future Grand Slam champion, Zverev has, yet, to go beyond the quarter-finals at any of the four majors.

He already owns three Masters 1000 titles though, including this year on clay in Madrid.

Zverev has hired eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl in a bid move to the next level and World No.1 Djokovic believes that is a sound move that will pay dividends.

Djokovic also said fans should be patient with the likes of Zverev and fellow youngsters like Croatia’s Borna Coric and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas as they seek to make their breakthroughs in the sport’s biggest events.

“I know you guys might be a little bit rough on them,” he told reporters. “I think there is a lot of quality in the new generation. Zverev is obviously the leader of that next generation. He has proven himself.

“Obviously Lendl is one of the biggest legends of our sport. Having him in your box as your mentor, as your tennis coach, is very valuable. He’s definitely on the good path.

“Having Lendl, as I said, can only serve him as an incentive for an improvement.”

Zverev missed out on a semifinal berth on his debut at the season-ender last year and will need to beat John Isner on Friday to have a chance of sticking around for the weekend.

“I’ve got one more group match to play here. We’ll see how that goes,” Zverev, who opened his round-robin play with a win over Marin Cilic on Monday, said.

“I think I’ll take it as a normal quarter-final match at a normal tournament.”