Novak Djokovic calls for Davis Cup and ATP Cup merger

Davis Cup
Novak Djokovic presser

Novak Djokovic doesn’t believe the revamped Davis Cup and newly launched ATP Cup can co-exist six weeks apart, saying the two events should merge and be moved to September.

The Davis Cup, run by the International Tennis Federation, underwent a major overhaul as the Finals is now a weeklong tournament contested by 18 nations in one city with Madrid’s La Caja Magica hosting this year’s event.

Meanwhile, the ATP Tour launched its own team event, the 24-team ATP Cup, with the first edition taking place in Australia at the beginning of January.

And of course there is also the Laver Cup, which sees Team Europe take on Team United States at rotating locations in September every year.

With many players already complaining about a congested calendar, 16-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic thinks the Davis Cup and ATP Cup should merge.

“Scheduling was always an issue, you know, for both ATP Cup and Davis Cup,” he said. “Actually, in my opinion, which was an idea, that it could happen, was the merge between the two. And so I think it’s still open for the future.

“I’ve been part of discussions through the Player Council, through various different ways in the last three years, about the evolution of the ATP Cup and the changes in Davis Cup. And, of course, the ITF and ATP are two different organisations. So it’s very complex, it’s not easy to make any change in our sport.

“But I think when the change is made, at least you make that first step. Of course, you can always point out the negatives but there are positives as well. So looking long-term, I personally don’t think that the two events can co-exist six weeks apart. It’s just a little bit too congested.

“The most ideal I think time of the year is after US Open, probably end of September. That would be the best time to have this super cup, whatever, one cup hopefully in the future.

“Yeah, I mean, that’s my opinion. I don’t know whether that’s realistic or not, whether that’s possible.”

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