Australian tennis icon Rod Laver says Davis Cup is on its ‘last legs’

Australian tennis legend Rod Laver has made the stunning call that we are watching the end of the Davis Cup before our very eyes.

Nick Kyrgios of Australia is seen reacting during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the World Group first round match of the Davis Cup between Australia and Germany played at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Sunday, February 4, 2018. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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The 118-year-old Davis Cup which helped shaped the face of Australian tennis looks to be on its way out says the most famous name still in the men’s game.

Rod Laver, who won five Davis Cups with Australia — in the 1950s, 60s and 70s — said something would need to give in what is becoming a deeply congested professional tennis calendar.

Tennis great Rod Laver (L) believes the Davis Cup is on its last legs.

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Laver said he was concerned about the future of the Davis Cup and other events including the successful Christmas staple, the Hopman Cup. From January next year the new inter nation ATP Cup will further crowd out a calendar that now also boasts Laver’s own creation, the successful Laver Cup.

“Unfortunately I think the Davis Cup is on its last legs,” he said.

“It just seems like it is getting lost, you haven’t got any someone in there fighting for the Davis Cup, they are fighting to play different matches (events).

“I know with the Laver Cup maybe we stood on a few toes because this format came out and we enjoyed it. The Davis Cup is unfortunately a battle because they are trying to bring other things (events) in.”

However Laver backed the domineering and hard-work approach of current Davis Cup captain, Lleyton Hewitt, to the Australian squad, the only way to bring success he said.

“He is trying to mould a group together and compete and why would you be unhappy with this format?”

Australia's John Peers (L) celebrates with teammate Lleyton Hewitt. Picture; AFP

There has always been friction between players and coaches he said.

“But the coach knows he has got to get a team ready and that’s why those things pop up. I grew up in that mould with (captain) Harry Hopman and if you were prepared to work your buns off and improve your game you were welcome to be in.”

Laver was first called up to the Davis Cup set up as part of the squad in 1958 he said as the orange boy.

“I then played my first Davis Cup in Forest Hills (New York), I had a pretty close four set match. That was a huge thrill for me to be able to represent Australia.”

Any successful Davis Cup captain needs to override the demands of the players’ everyday coaches he said though he had doubts that present players appreciate the bigger picture.

“The captain or coach representing Australia is one step above one of the individual coaches, you have to accept that if you want to play Davis Cup, yes you have a coach but there is a captain over here and he is not trying to change your game, he is trying to mould you into a player that is going to win.”

Laver is a fan of Nick Kyrgios, who has been left out of next week’s Davis Cup tie. Picture: Getty

Laver was supportive of Nick Kyrgios who has been omitted from next week’s Davis Cup in Adelaide where Australia will face Bosnia for the right to play in the revamped 10 day, 18 nation finals in Madrid this November.

“It’s tough to analyse Nick, he has a beautiful game, he is a competitor and he has proved it in the Laver Cup where he almost beat Federer in Prague. He had a ‘I want to be in the Laver Cup’ attitude, that to me gives a sense that he really cares about really wanting to be improving his game.”

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Originally published as Australian tennis icon Rod Laver says Davis Cup is on its ‘last legs’