Australian tennis legend slates Davis Cup decision-makers in scathing rant

16-time doubles Grand Slam champion Todd Woodbridge thinks the Davis Cup “won’t exist in five years’ time” and feels the decision-makers “really need to take a look at themselves.”

In 2018, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) agreed a $3 billion (£2.25 billion) partnership with Spanish footballer Gerard Pique’s Kosmos Tennis group for 25 years.

This deal led to a revamp of the tournament in 2019 which saw the implementation of 18 teams and resulted in the end of the traditional home and away style format.

With these changes already in place, the proposal to move the Davis Cup to Abu Dhabi was met with a mixed reception from both players and captains alike.

If the event were to be moved to Abu Dhabi it would run into December, extending the competitive season and in turn shortening players’ off-seasons and their rest and recovery time.

Six-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion Todd Woodbridge has lambasted the decision-makers in a scathing rant on Australian radio show 2GB.

Former doubles World number one Woodbridge said “what player in their right mind is going to go to Abu Dhabi and give themselves two weeks off before starting the new season? There will be no off-season, there will be no time to prepare.

“The people that are making these decisions really need to take a look at themselves, because this event, I think, won’t be with us in five years’ time.

“Should (the ITF administrators) still be there? That’s the question. I think that if you’ve wrecked the most historic competition in the game you probably have to resign and move on.”

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