Bosnia-Herzegovina holds high hopes against an Australia at Memorial Drive in the revamped Davis Cup

THERE has been much debate over the changed Davis Cup but Bosnia-Herzegovina captain Amer Delic has urged fans to give the new format, with best-of-three set matches, a chance.

BOSNIA-Herzegovina captain Amer Delic believes the revamped Davis Cup has every chance to replicate the success of the old format as his team prepares for this weekend’s tie against Australia at Memorial Drive.

Delic, a former top-60 player in the world, returns as the captain of the country he served with distinction for Bosnia-Herzegovina’s first tie against Australia and for a spot in November’s Davis Cup finals.

The competition has been reduced to best-of-three set matches and the Memorial Drive tie will serve as the qualifying tie to make it to a team tournament in Madrid, Spain.

Traditionalist have reeled against the changes but Delic said the new-look historic team event had the potential to hugely successful.

“I can’t really form an opinion yet — we’ll see,” Delic said. “I know what it was and how awesome it was to be a part of it.

“Even watching from the sidelines and playing in it — the emotions are at a whole new level with your team cheering for you.

“Tennis is such a selfish sport and not many players get to experience this format.

“Unless you’ve played college tennis or Davis Cup.

“It was incredible and I think this has the legs to be awesome.

“Especially if we can get through this and get to where everybody is playing a round robin.

“There are a lot of unknowns but we’ve got to give it a try.”

Delic conceded Bosnia-Herzegovina would enter the tie as underdogs and had made plans for Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt to play in the doubles match.

But he didn’t think it would be too big a task if he asked one or both of his star two players — world No. 52 Damir Dzumhur and No, 99 Mirza Basic — to play three matches over Friday and Saturday.

Australian Davis Cup tennis coach Lleyton Hewitt with players Jordan Thompson and (r) John Millman at Memorial Drive. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“I think you can do it,” Delic said. “These guys are in such incredible shape.

“Two out of three sets (matches) … most practice days they do that.

“It’s really nothing new.

“Playing on the Saturday, when you start off with the doubles, can almost be used as a warm-up (for that day’s reverse singles.

“I don’t think it’s physically too demanding but it’s going to be hot on Friday so we’ll see.”

Australia will be spearheaded by world No. 28 Alex de Minaur and also includes John Millman, Jordan Thompson, doubles specialist John Peers and Alexei Popyrin.

Hewitt also has the option of playing himself.

The opening singles matches will be start at 4pm Friday afternoon while the doubles and the reverse singles will begin at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.