The atmosphere is good during the Davis Cup matches in Groningen, but as soon as the group stage starts that atmosphere disappears. After the takeover by former top footballer Gerard Piqué, empty stands and criticism took over. What went wrong?
The Dutch tennis players will play in front of packed stands against Switzerland on Friday and Saturday in Groningen, but you rarely see that atmosphere in the Davis Cup. The new format, with a group stage and several countries in the final, led to fierce criticism from the players.
When Piqué bought the rights to the Davis Cup with his company Kosmos in 2018, he had a clear vision. “I want people to have the week of their lives during the Davis Cup Finals,” said the former FC Barcelona player.
He couldn’t make that happen. Over a period of 25 years, Kosmos would pump around 3 billion euros into “renewing and modernizing” the tournament. “I like to think big,” were Piqué’s words at the time. And that’s exactly where it went wrong.
The tradition-rich tournament was overhauled in 2019. There are fewer home and away games on the schedule, and the games have been shortened from best of fives to best of threes. The final was played in Málaga in December with eight countries, with Italy as the winner.
The tournament has lost its soul in recent years. The special atmosphere at matches between two national teams faded, the madness surrounding home and away matches was limited to the qualifying matches and it was no longer about the fans, but about money.
Gerard Piqué is one of the spectators during the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga in 2022. Photo: Getty Images
‘That’s not why you do it’
Empty stands were also often visible during the group stage in 2023. Tennis players expressed their frustrations throughout the year. “It was uncomfortable,” says Swiss tennis player Marc-Andrea Hüsler on Thursday in Groningen.
“Last year during the group stage in Manchester it felt very strange to be on the court,” says Hüsler. “The stadium was almost empty and it doesn’t feel like you’re playing the Davis Cup.”
Stan Wawrinka also expressed his displeasure in 2023, after Switzerland played France in front of empty stands in Manchester. “Thank you, Gerard Piqué and ITF,” he wrote on X.
For comparison: in 2014, Wawrinka won with Roger Federer at his side in the Davis Cup final against France, in front of a rapturous crowd in the indoor Stade Pierre-Mauroy of football club Lille OSC. The contrast with the images from nine years later was poignant.
Tallon Greekpoor can also relate to that feeling. “If you see that we played in front of almost empty stands in Split last year… That’s not why you do it. That’s a shame, the national tournament is too good for that. I would like to see the home and away games return. Then we can also play more often in their own country,” says the Dutch number 29 in the world.
In the sometimes lonely existence of a professional tennis player, the Davis Cup is unique, say Greekpoor and Hüsler. Even top players such as Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal also wanted to win the prestigious national tournament in a packed tennis year. Although it often meant overtime for the tennis stars.
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ITF cancels contract with Kosmos
“The best thing for the players is of course the home and away matches,” says Davis Cup captain Paul Haarhuis, who played for the Netherlands no fewer than 27 times between 1990 and 2005. “We have also had times where we did not have a single home match for five years. Then people almost forget what the Davis Cup is.”
Yet Haarhuis understands that a decision was made to change a number of years ago. “It is very difficult to find the right balance. We do have input, because we can give our opinion, but ultimately the ITF decides. Money rules, that is everywhere.”
“My suggestion would be to ensure that the home country plays every day during the group stage,” Haarhuis suggests. “Then you have the real Davis Cup atmosphere in Hamburg when the German team plays. As soon as the Netherlands plays against the US later in the day, the atmosphere remains good because the German fans are still present. That atmosphere was missing last year.”
It is still uncertain whether the Davis Cup will return to its old form after this season, because the ITF has already canceled the contract with Kosmos in 2023. It is unknown whether the strong criticism from the top players played a role, but it is certain that they are nostalgic for the old Davis Cup format. Greekpoor: “I’m sure all players want it back.”
Davis Cup Qualifying Schedule
Friday February 2, from 2 p.m.:
- Single: Griekspoor (ATP-29)-Hüsler (ATP-199)
- Single: Van de Zandschulp (ATP-63)-Riedi (ATP-175)
Saturday February 3, from 1 p.m.:
- Doubles: Koolhof (ATP-7)/Rojer (ATP-19)-Kym (ATP-816)/Ritschard (ATP-645)
- Single: Greek Spoor-Riedi
- Single: Van de Zandschulp-Hüsler
Reserve player Netherlands: Gijs Brouwer (ATP-158)
The winner over two match days earns a place in the group stage of Davis Cup Finals. The loser will face a play-off match in September.
2024-02-02 08:27:03
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