12 time grand slam champion, Mahesh Bhupathi has hit out at the ITF for abandoning the ‘DNA’ of the Davis Cup in the latest proposed reforms.
The ITF reforms, which are set to be voted on in August, has sparked a lot of controversy with Lleyton Hewitt and Lucas Pouille being the most vocal against the reforms. While other players such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have welcomed the changes. The latest player to criticise the proposed reforms, is former doubles grand slam champion, Mahesh Bhupathi.
The former Indian doubles player has criticised the ITF for proposing to take away the home and away factor of the Davis Cup, which he describes as the ‘DNA’ of the Davis Cup. “It will not be ideal because playing at home and dealing with the challenges in away ties is part of the Davis Cup DNA that makes the competition exciting,” said India’s current Davis Cup captain.
However Bhupathi has suggested that the reforms should be up for consideration as the money proposed by Kosmos is too good to turn down, “Davis Cup is special and all the top players have committed to it at some point. Like every sport, tennis needs to be driven by innovation and revenue and if there is a three billion dollar opportunity there is no way it can be ignored regardless of the sentiment,” explained Bhupathi.
“Top players always play for their country when they are fit and healthy. A case in point is Rafa (Rafael Nadal) who just played even when he missed Indian Wells and Miami (Masters events). It’s not about Davis Cup. If a player is injured or tired they miss the biggest events in the world as well like you saw at the London Masters few years in a row,” added Bhupathi, who has played 55 Davis Cup matches for his country, winning 35 of them.
The vote for the new reforms takes place at the ITF AGM meeting in Orlando in August. While Mahesh Bhupathi will hope to lead India into a historic World Group place in September when they take on Serbia in the World Group Play-Offs.
