Davis Cup-Reform: Tenniswelt reagiert bestürzt

Boris Becker, Head of Men’s Tennis des Deutschen Tennis Bundes:

„Loss of words about the decision today. Nothing to add outside the nice answer of Barbara Schett. Rules can be rewritten, but they can't recreate the unique Davis Cup atmosphere. Be proud to be among the players who wrote tennis history at this event and made it so great and unforgettable. #daviscup“

Fabrice Santoro, ehemaliger französischer Weltklassespieler:

„Unfortunally the French Tennis President was the one not listening to all his players and is even proud of his role he had in this decision against tennis. Hope French tennis fans remember this when the next election comes. No words to describe how sad I am. This is the end of an institution that has driven so much emotions to tennis players and tennis fans around the world. Business once again takes over the history and the values of sport. Thank you @daviscup for all what you gave me!“

Pat Cash, australischer Wimbledonsieger:

„Sad day for men’s tennis #ITF have voted for new format of #DavisCup (its no longer Davis Cup) Fooling themselves if they think top players will play a 18 team comp over 1 week at the end of the year????“

Yannick Noah, aktueller Davis Cup-Kapitän von Frankreich und ehemaliger Weltklassespieler, der im Laufe seiner Karriere 23 Turniere im Einzel gewann, darunter 1983 die French Open. Als Teamchef der Franzosen gewann er mit den Herren zweimal den Davis Cup (1991 und 1996) und mit den Damen einmal den Fed Cup (1997):

„Schande über all die Spieler, Führungskräfte und Medien, die die Seele des Davis Cup verkauft haben. Traurig für den Tennissport.“

Marc Rosset, ehemaliger Schweizer Tennisprofi und bis Juli 2005 Kapitän der Davis Cup-Mannschaft:

„RIP Davis Cup. I was proud to played it and to represent my country every single time. Good luck to ITF with their new World Cup. I feel sorry to the Swiss fans who did money sacrifices over decades and holidays sacrifices as well. Maybe I am just a old guy who don‘t like changes I dont know but for me the Davis Cup I used.to love is dead today. Maybe time will show me I am wrong but thanks to Davis Cup the only competition with olympics where the flag was more important than the money and the only competition where you would have seen Sampras playing in Russia on clay. Stan and Rodg going to Novi Sad ...etc etc ...“ (Anmerkung der Redaktion: in Novi Sad fand 2014 die Davis Cup-Erstrundenbegegnung der Schweiz gegen Serbien statt, in diesem Jahr holte die Schweiz seinen bislang einzigen Davis Cup-Titel)

Felix Auger Aliassime, Nachwuchstalent aus Kanada:

„One of my biggest dream as a kid was to one day play a Davis Cup final in front of my home crowd. Sadly I’ll never have the chance to experience Davis Cup like I grew up watching it. I still hoped tradition and history would win over money, but I guess that’s where we are now.“

Vasek Pospisil, Tennisprofi aus Kanada, seit diesem Jahr Mitglied des ATP-Spielerrats (ATP Player Council):

“The Player Council, the ATP were more than happy to work with the ITF and come up with something that would benefit everyone. The way it’s done now, that’s just not possible. They are also proposing it to be at the end of the year after the Masters. And the year is too long as it is. What we need from Davis Cup is to have the big players playing, and making the year longer isn’t going to help that.”

“I love Davis Cup, I love to play for my country. And I think most players are in the same boat. Who isn’t a proud patriot and proud to represent their country? But they’re putting things on our plate and we’re forced to swallow them down, without even knowing what we’re eating.”

“If you’re going to completely re-create an event as prestigious, and with a much history as the Davis Cup, you’d better put a lot of thought behind it and make sure what you’re proposing is the absolutely best structure for everybody.”

Alizé Cornet, aktive Profispielerin aus Frankreich:

„Crying over two tragic deaths today. Aretha Franklin and DavisCup. RIP.“

Karol Kucera, ehemaliger slowakischer Profi (Bestes Ranking: ATP 6):

„Very sad news for real champions and for tennis at all!!!“

Robin Haase, Topspieler aus den Niederlanden und Mitglied im ATP-Spielerrat:

„I always played tennis because it is my passion. Yes many players can make a good living from it. So do I. However it is not the reason why I started. It has always been an honour to represent my country but now a beautiful event only became about money.”

Janko Tipsarevic, serbischer Tennisprofi und zwei Jahre lang Top 10-Spieler. Gewann mit seinem Land sowohl den ATP World Team Cup als auch den Davis Cup:

„Proposed changes to Davis Cup are inconceivable – if this competition is to retain its respectable name. To limit or extract the aspect of “Home and Away” eliminates almost everything that has made Davis Cup a successful and respectable competition, one of longest registered history and tradition in the sporting world. I do not see myself as a member of any team representing my country – and not to be able to share the rare privilege, satisfaction and passion of performing under our flag with my teammates with our home fans, across our nation.“

Lucas Pouille, Profi aus Frankreich:

„You guys are a shame for tennis. Let’s enjoy our last Davis Cup year and let‘s try to keep it home.“

John Millman, Profi aus Australien:

„How do you think a tennis player, backed by a billionaire, would fare wanting to change the whole format of football’s meager 63 year old Champions League competition? Including no home and away fixtures, WC teams, etc. It’s crazy.“

Todd Woodbridge, der Australier gehört mit 83 Titeln zu den erfolgreichsten Doppelspielen der Tennisgeschichte. Er spielte insgesamt 41 Davis Cup-Matches für sein Land, überwiegend im Doppel:

„A footballer gets the stage at @ITF_Tennis AGM to tell us why @DavisCup needs to change but legends of the game of which there are many who disagree do not.“

Greg Rusedski, ehemaliger britischer Tennisprofi:

„Very disappointing to hear that the new Davis Cup proposal was passed today. Yes the Davis Cup needed some changes but this I don’t believe is the right formula. I will miss Home and Away ties and many more aspects of the Davis Cup.“

Coco Vandeweghe, US-amerikanischer Tennisprofi:

„Sad news and a disappointing out come for the Davis Cup and im assuming Fed Cup soon after. Home and away ties, representing your country in both areas, and playing for your teammates is what it’s all about. ITF is severely missing the point here.“

Tennys Sandgren, Tennisprofi aus den USA:

„The Davis Cup changes seem interesting, but it would’ve been cool if the players had some sort of say. The lack of voice afforded to players is pretty ridiculous.“

Lesen Sie auch:

Im Überblick: So läuft der Davis Cup ab 2019

Der Davis Cup wird reformiert – DTB-Präsident Klaus: „Eine herbe Enttäuschung“

Ulrich Klaus: „Es wurde wenig über Sport diskutiert“