World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev has supported the plans of the 2022 Davis Cup Finals to have five hot nations. Abu Dhabi has got the nod as the knockout venue. But the Russian highlights that the event at the end of the calendar will continue to discourage top players to perform at the event.
International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty announced the changes made to the Davis Cup Finals for the 2022 edition in a press conference.
It was revealed that the event will feature 16 teams split into four groups of four teams. The tournament earlier had 18 teams and were divided into six groups. But now the four groups will have a particular city while the knockouts will be held in a neutral city, Abu Dhabi.
Medvedev helped the Russian Tennis Federation win the 2021 Davis Cup, the Russian tennis star expressed his feelings on the changes made to the next edition.
“I think the idea itself is very good,” Medvedev said. “Of course, the calendar doesn’t let Davis Cup be in any other week, so that’s where it’s tough. That’s where some top players are not going to play because it’s the end of the season, somebody’s burned out, somebody’s injured, somebody wants to prepare well [for] Australia, so that’s not easy.”
The reigning US Open winner highlighted the positive points of the new changes and also backed Abu Dhabi as the knockout venue mainly because of the facilities and stadiums on offer. “In general, the idea of having four cities in Europe, trying to get of course best countries to play there in front of their home crowd and gather together in Abu Dhabi, where I heard it’s amazing stadium and amazing facilities, I like this idea,” Medvedev continued.
But the 25-year-old also highlighted how the schedule of the Davis Cup Finals always makes it tough for the top tennis players to participate in this competition. “Again, it’s going to be tough for any player, especially who is in the Masters (ATP Finals), to be able to cope up with the season,” Medvedev concluded.
Medvedev played a pivotal role in helping the Russian Tennis Federation defeat Croatia in the finals of the Davis Cup 2021.
