Italy’s Davis Cup non-playing captain Corrado Barazzutti on Monday joined the chorus against the tournament’s new format, likening it to a shortened Grand Slam.
“They changed the formula… this is the formula and we have to play this one. I was a tennis player before. I played and won the Davis Cup for my country and I love the other formula,” Barazzutti told reporters after Italy’s first training session at the South Club here.
Italy take on India in a Davis Cup World Group qualifier on February 1-2.
“Time has changed and that is the decision that the ITF has taken,” the former Davis Cupper said.
“It’s like changing a Slam. You put a best-of-three sets match in a Slam and you play one week only. You think it’s the same? Everything has changed and it’s going fast. There is money too and that’s important. I don’t think the best players play for money.
“I don’t think (Roger) Federer plays Wimbledon, (Rafael) Nadal plays Roland Garros and (Novak) Djokovic plays Flushing Meadows for the money,” he added.
The new format will be an 18-team tournament played over a week in one venue, with the first two editions being hosted by Madrid on an indoor hard court.
Asked about the home advantage being taken away, Barazzutti said: “Now we play final only in one place. I don’t know. I am coming from a different era. Davis Cup was much better for me in the past playing best-of-five matches.”
Among those showing opposition was Djokovic, who said the Davis Cup would conflict with the ATP Cup, a newly-created team competition. Federer has said he does not intend to play in the new Davis Cup event, but Nadal has already confirmed his presence.
Barazzutti said there are no underdogs in the Davis Cup and they will not start as favourites against India. Barazzutti’s counterpart Mahesh Bhupathi had said a few days earlier that India would start as “big underdogs” against higher-ranked Italians.