DTB President Dietloff von Arnim: "Now we have to think about it quickly"
In an interview with the Sport Information Service (SID), DTB President Dietloff von Arnim lets his disappointment with the Kosmos Davis Cup debacle shine through and calls for quick future plans for the traditional event.
by SID/red.
last edit: Jan 17, 2023, 01:25 pm
After the separation from financier Kosmos, the tennis world association ITF took over sole control of the Davis Cup again. However, without financially strong sponsors, the future of the 123-year-old competition is hanging in the balance. In the SID interview, DTB President Dietloff von Arnim commented on the subject, he will also be running for the office of ITF President in Mexico in September.
SID: The ITF and Kosmos are going their separate ways after five years. The collaboration was set to last 25 years. what's your opinion on this?
Dietloff von Arnim (President of the German Tennis Association): "I was and still am shocked since I found out about it last Thursday. It's a damn difficult situation for the Davis Cup 2023 and I'm excited to hear from the ITF find out how this traditional competition should and will continue this year and in the years to come.
What does this mean for the competition?
I honestly don't know at the moment because we didn't get more information. There are so many questions for all associations worldwide that we are not being answered at the moment. This is not good. For example, it is not clear who will be televised at our home game against Switzerland in Trier at the beginning of February. This is very disappointing and sobering. On the positive side, the demand for tickets in Trier is very positive - so there is interest in being part of the Davis Cup in your own country.
What will become of the Davis Cup now, how will one of the most traditional competitions in sports history continue?
The ITF has assured that the event will take place as planned this year - I don't know what the financial situation looks like and we haven't received any information about it. Now the management of the ITF is required to think immediately about how the Davis Cup should be held in 2023 and in the years to come - I'm very excited about the proposal. And then a general meeting would have to make a decision.
To what extent are you involved in the decision-making process?
At the moment I'm at the Australian Open in Melbourne and of course this topic is discussed first. I will meet here with the Grand Slam nations present, with some associations and presidents, and we will think hard about what the future of the Davis Cup can look like. It is the crown jewel of the ITF and we need a concept with sensible and realistic funding.
Who do you need to get on board to give the Davis Cup a new, stable foundation as quickly as possible?
Above all, you have to integrate the interests of the national associations into the planning. Because the associations have the know-how and can provide important impetus. We need expertise.
You have been President of the German Tennis Association for a little over two years and are running as a candidate at the ITF Congress in Mexico in September to succeed David Haggerty as head of the world association. What would you like to do differently if you are elected?
I would like to communicate openly and honestly with all associations, as I have been doing in Germany for the past two years. But we have to think about the future of the Davis Cup quickly, we need a structure that represents the sport in the best possible way and is marketable.