At Davis Cup, a Memorable Night (Plus Morning) Exposes Some Flaws

But more significant reconstruction will probably be required when the investment firm Kosmos and the International Tennis Federation, which partnered to produce the overhauled event, sift through the pros and cons of these finals.

Bleary-eyed or not, Querrey still thinks Davis Cup has “great potential,” which is a point of view worth valuing for those, like me, who are feeling nostalgic about the traditional home-and-away format after seeing too many empty seats this week.

“That was always going to be the toughest part about it,” said Querrey, 32. “Having it here, there would be a lot for the Spaniards, and it would be a little weak for other countries. But people I think are going to learn about the event. I think even my friends and family still didn’t quite understand it, because it’s the first year. And maybe as it gets more talked about, people will understand more what it is and how great it could be.”

The event will need much better exposure and promotion to gain any traction in the United States. But Querrey thinks it needs to be even faster-paced, as well.

“I would be in favor of singles and doubles all going to two-of-three sets with no-ad scoring and a match tiebreaker for the third set,” he said. “I’m usually in favor of quicker, shorter matches and providing a little more excitement.”

That may be a tough sell, but the organizers are going to have to change or shorten something if they plan to stick with 18 teams over a single week next year. Perhaps better to reduce it to 16 teams with four groups of four and scrap the two wild cards.

In the meantime, everyone will have to make the best of the current format and its quirks, like the U.S.-Italy showdown. Records are incomplete, but Thursday’s finish is believed to be the second-latest in the Open era. The latest was Lleyton Hewitt’s third-round victory over Marcos Baghdatis at the 2008 Australian Open, which ended at 4:34 a.m.

Source: The New York Times

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Keywords:

Davis Cup • Cosmos • International Tennis Federation • Davis Cup • Home and Away • United States • Wild card (sports) • Italy • History of tennis • Lleyton Hewitt • Marcos Baghdatis • 2008 Australian Open •