THE Davis Cup faces the sixth year since its facelift under a new format promoted by Gerard Pique and it almost clearly proved a failure for the historic tennis tournament. Protected by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the former footballer, through his defunct company, Cosmos Tennishas created a new image for a competition that has gone from being the most important in terms of fans and atmosphere to not being able to fill the stands of its new venues and attracting even the best players in the world. Carlos Alcaraz This is an exception in the first division within a Davis that either seeks solutions or can be led to an irreconcilable situation.
After the first two days of the Group stageit is confirmed that assistance is not compliant with the organizers’ predictions, not even in Valencewhere the atmosphere is generally exceptional. The Saint Louis Fountainwhich should be sold out from Friday, had to make do with around 60% attendance during Spain’s first duel against the Czech Republicdespite the presence of Carlos Alcaraza theoretical statement in itself.
On the players’ side, the failure is also notorious, although accompanied by an asterisk. Alcaraz He is the only top 15 tennis player present at the Davis Cup 2024 Group Stageeven if it must be considered that Novak Djokovic will play a qualifying match against second division Serbia this weekend. Sinner, Zverev, Fritz either Tommy Paul Yes, they are absent with their respective countries immersed in the struggle for Bowlwith a hole in the calendar in which the hangover of US Open makes assistance in all conditions very complicated.
In general, criticism of the new format of the Davis Cup have become a constant since the installation of the novelty in the 2019 edition, with a fixed seat at Madrid It ended with the Spanish team as champions and Rafa Nadal And Roberto Bautista like heroes. Spain has become, without a doubt, the great beneficiary, with the status of home from the first year in all the phases it has played, now with Valencia -group stage- and Malaga -Final 8- as sites, but the fans of the rest of the countries suffer the consequences of the idyllic thought of Gerard Pique to create a tennis world cup which is confirmed as a failure and requires changes to be made in future planning.
Already with Cosmos outside the organization Davis Cupafter breaking the agreement with the FITcompetition continues to suffer the consequences of the company’s legacy To prick, while the latest news, instead of correcting some aspects, only fuels the fire with doubts and criticism about the tournament.
In 2024, a place like ZhuhaiIn Chinawithout the host country as a participant and with all countries thousands of kilometres away from the match venue. The result is a picture in the stands far from the full capacity desired by the International Tennis Federation for your star event. In Bologna, Manchester and Valencia, even if the picture is significantly better, the attendance forecasts are not met either, even less on the days when Italy, Great Britain and Spain organize a qualifying round. Davis Cup.
Alcaraz, the “only” star of the Davis Cup
After his absence in 2023, due to the fatigue accumulated until the US Open, Carlos Alcaraz returns in 2024 to Davis Cup in the group stage, with some rest due to their early defeat this year in new YorkThe Murcian tennis player has made an effort that players of his size have not been able or willing to make, prioritizing his physique and focusing on upcoming commitments in the ATP Calendarabout a Davis Cup that does not bring in ranking points.
The US Open champion, Jannik the fishermanrejected the captain’s appeal Davis Cup from Italy, while the finalist, Taylor Fritzdid the same with the United States. Neither Jack Draper nor Frances Tiafoesemi-finalists, nor Alexander Zverevbrand new number two in the ATP rankings. All have their countries in the top division of competition at Davis, but they decide to save themselves for a Final 8 where they risk their country not qualifying.
