Coco Gauff's former coach, Brad Gilbert, argues that the Davis Cup format requires a complete overhaul. He highlights the ongoing issue of top players prioritizing personal schedules over national team commitments.
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While the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup are prestigious events in tennis, not every player gives them top priority.
Every now and then, it seems a fresh debate kicks off when a top player decides to sit out national duty, choosing instead to focus on their own schedule or simply take some time off.
It happens fairly often, but still tends to draw criticism. Brad Gilbert is the latest to weigh in on the issue.
His comments werenât directed at the players, though. Instead, he took aim at how the event itself is structured and even suggested a possible fix.
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Speaking on the Big T podcast, the American coach, known for his time working with Andre Agassi and Coco Gauff, said: âI donât like the format changes that have been made now. The greatness of the Davis Cup and the BJK Cup was home and away ties.
âWhat needs fixing is the players need to support it. If the players donât support it, it doesnât matter what it is. So that bothers me because way back in the day, it was one of the great events, a cornerstone of the calendar.
âBut we can say, it totally needs to be revamped, but if they do that, and the players donât play, itâs a waste of time no matter what they do in my opinion.â
Nick Monroe, his co-host, pointed out that travel demands play a role too. He noted how some matchups force players into long journeys immediately after tournaments elsewhere.
The timing of these comments came just after a weakened US team lost their Billie Jean King Cup tie against Belgium â a defeat few had predicted.
Brad Gilbert believes the Davis Cup format needs a complete revamp to better accommodate players' schedules and commitments.
Top players often skip the Davis Cup to focus on their personal schedules or take time off, which has sparked criticism.
The Davis Cup is a prestigious international team competition in tennis, representing national pride and competition among countries.
Brad Gilbert is a former tennis player and coach who previously coached Coco Gauff, providing insights into the challenges faced by players regarding national duty.
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When asked whether changing how often matches are held could help address these issues, Gilbert replied: âIâm thinking it should either be every two years or every four years. You know or maybe like the Ryder Cup but certainly not every year.
âAnd when you win it you have to start back you know. But I donât like this where they go to quarters at a neutral site. And then if your country doesnât travel it seems like inconsequential.â
While Brad Gilbert hasnât come out directly in support of holding the Davis Cup every four years, there are already reasons backing such a move.
It would also help give more meaning to the idea of the tournament as tennisâs version of a World Cup, putting it in line with how international events are spaced out in other major sports.
With fewer editions, each one could feel more important for both fans and players. The longer gap between tournaments might make it harder for top players to skip, something that happens quite often under the current setup.
This change could also fix some of Gilbertâs concerns about player support and scheduling, as a less frequent event might draw more interest and commitment from across the sport.
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