Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic want merger of ATP Cup and Davis Cup
Even before both superstars had contested their opening match at the first edition of the ATP Cup, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic criticized the process. Two team competitions in a very short time are "confusing", which is why both are calling for a merger with the Davis Cup.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jan 04, 2020, 12:35 pm
The previous season had ended with the Davis Cup, the new one is starting with a different team competition. Eight top ten players contest the $ 15 million ATP Cup in Australia. Austria is represented by top star Dominic Thiem, Dennis Novak, Sebastian Ofner and the double specialists Oliver Marach and Jürgen Melzer.
Only Roger Federer, who had already missed the Davis Cup finals, and the injured Italian Matteo Berrettini are missing from the top ranks.
Nadal and Djokovic had already asked for the Davis Cup to merge with the ATP Cup in November. Until then, the prestige projects of the ITF (Davis Cup) and ATP (ATP Cup) will have to fight for a while for a good negotiating position.
"They are really similar events and one literally follows the other," said Canadian Denis Shapovalov . "I don't see why the ATP and the ITF can't go together, can't come to any deal, and can't make a really unique and special tournament for everyone."
Novak Djokovic: "Difficult for top players to be at both events"
Nadal agreed with his younger colleague. "I think tennis deserves something like that (a merger, note)," said the leader of the ATP world rankings.
And Djokovic agrees. "I hope that will happen because it is a little difficult to get the top players to be in both events, the Davis Cup and the ATP Cup," said the Serb. "And there are only six weeks in between, so it doesn't make things easier in terms of marketing and the value of the event."
Tradition speaks for the Davis Cup, for the ATP Cup the start at the beginning of the year. With fresh energy, the players traveled to Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, where 24 teams determined the quarter-finalists in group games over six days. The knockout rounds with the final on Sunday in a week will then only take place in Sydney, where the air is currently polluted due to the devastating bush fires.