Former world No.1 and captain of the Australian Davis up team Lleyton Hewitt has reiterated his stance that the team event was better in its old format.
Hewitt, who has captained his country’s team since 2016, says he would like to see the return of home and away ties for the semi-final and final stages of the event. In recent years the Davis Cup has gone through numerous changes which was triggered by a deal with Kosmos to revamp the competition. However, Kosmos’ pledge to invest in the event for 25 years didn’t even last five years with the ITF terminating their contract.
Under the latest format, the top 16 teams are split down into four groups with each of those traveling to a specific location to play their ties. Then the top two of each group progress to the weeklong knockout stages, known as the Davis Cup Finals, in Malaga.
However, Hewitt believes the latest structure of the event isn’t as good as it used to be. Speaking to reporters in Malaga on Monday, when asked what he would change about the event, the 42-year-old replied: “to how it was.”
“The No. 1 thing is home-and-away ties. I have watched plenty of vision the last few years, even back in the day when I was playing,” he said.
“Coming back here to Spain and remembering 2000. Rafa Nadal was carrying the flag onto the court in front of over 20,000 people, all booing and screaming against me, and it was still an unbelievable atmosphere. That’s what the Davis Cup was about.’
“Whether we played home semis and finals in Rod Laver Arena or away in France, in Nice, or Barcelona, it was an unbelievable experience and some of my best memories. Some of my hardest memories, as well, but some of my very best.”
During his professional career, Hewitt played in 43 Davis Cup ties and won 42 out of 56 matches played. He featured in the final three years in a row (1999-2001) and then again in 2003.
Australia will begin their latest campaign later this week when they will play the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals. The team includes Alex de Minaur, Max Purcell, Jordan Thompson, Alexi Popryin and Matthew Ebden. Thanasi Kokkinakis has been forced to pull out of the event due to an ankle injury.
“The last couple of years it’s been a pretty settled team, to be honest,” said Hewitt.
“I haven’t used that many different players. It’s more about the camaraderie that the boys have. They know every time they step on the court they know what they’re playing for and it’s not just themselves.’
“They are playing for each other first, but they’re also playing for the rest of the team and support staff, but they’re also playing for their country.’
“It takes a certain player to be able to go out there and perform under that kind of pressures and expectations, and these boys can do it.”
Australia is aiming to go one step better than last year when they finished runners-up to Canada.
Full list of Davis Cup quarter-final fixtures
- Canada Vs Finland (to be played on 21/22/23 from 16:00 local time)
- Australia Vs Czech Republic (to be played on 22/11/23 from 16:00 local time)
- Italy vs Netherlands (to be played on 23/11/23 from 10:00 local time)
- Great Britain Vs Serbia (to be played on 23/11/23 not before 16:30 local time)
