Nick Kyrgios: Revamped Davis Cup will become a massive sporting event

Shahida Jacobs
August 28, 2018

Nick Kyrgios has thrown his weight behind the Davis Cup overhaul, saying “the changes are good”.

The International Tennis Federation earlier this month approved the controversial plans to transform the team competition into a World Cup-style, week-long event featuring 18 nations.

It means the home and away ties will fall away as the tournament will take place at one location with the Spanish capital of Madrid pencilled in to host the inaugural event in 2019.

While many of the world’s top players have either expressed their outrage or kept mum about the changes, Kyrgios has come out in support of the new format.

“Obviously the home and away ties was the thing that made Davis Cup special,” he is quoted as saying in The Australian.

“I’ve had some unbelievable memories of Davis Cup at home and away. The (semi-final) tie I played at Belgium (last year) was one of the most difficult ties I’ve played in, but also one of the most fun.

“That’s not there anymore so it’s lost its kind of Davis Cup feel a bit, I think.”

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He added: “I think the changes are good.

“Having a World Cup for tennis is a good idea. I definitely think it’s more entertaining for the crowd to have all the players in one place at one time.

“My feelings towards Davis Cup haven’t changed. I want to always play. I like being out there with my team and I love team events so I’ll always going to be looking forward to playing Davis Cup.

“It’s going to be a massive sporting event, which will be pretty cool.”