People have said that the davis cup should be played every 2, or even 4 yaers, whether as it is now or as a football world cup type event. It's clear to me at least that having a poorly scheduled, unrewarding (pointswise) sidelined tournament could certainly be improved. But how would you organise it?

I'd suggest I world cup-like format, but with the group stages (with round-robin format) played over one year, then the actual knockout stages over another one.

I'll expand on this later, but what are your suggestions?

A suggestion I put forward on the BEEB and I admit it is very radical is substitutions!


At the end of the day Davis Cup is the main team gam ein our sport, Henman V Roddick for EG is Great Britain V USA not about the individuals.

Therefore I would change it so that any one within the squad can be subbed in, there would be limits to how many you can do within a tie!

I just feel it would add a tactical element to the game, a suprise element and more of the team bond.

Imagine Britain are 2 rubbers down against Ukraine ( I doubt this will happen just an example) Mackin has to play this match and has to win it to keep Britain alive! he is 2 sets to love down! Lloyd can then sub Rusedski try and save the match thenn Murray would play the 5th something like that any way.

Like I say I know it sounds radcial and probably is a little bit but we must remeber Davis Cup is the biggest Team game in tennis we need to make it as much of of a team feeling as possible and bring it more to the masses and I honestly feel subbing players could help us do that

Yes I an I hope Lloyd doesnt try and get Henman back as even Boggo is am improvement on that! roflmao

I agree every two years would be better and fairer. Afterall the winners only hold the cup for about 4 months then it starts all over again

Tim Henman would be a great assest to the team once again even at this late stage in his career. Apart from Andy who is now the best player we have the rest are pretty dire to say the least. But I doubt he will come back now. He has done his bit. In fact more than his fair share IMO. He carried that team for years.

Henman got us into this position didnt he? and then fled for his own interests-paid off didn't it ;) I think that the whole DC sysyem needs a re-think.I am with Mac about the importance of it and for playing in a team.It is isolating to just chasing around the world without working as a team.Players used to play the doubles and mixed but have got so selfish it is now the doubles specialists like the Bryans who dont play singles that win.

Yep the format is well out of date and needs an overhaul. Forget Tim Henman . He wont be back no matter how much Lloyd pleads with him. He has done his bit. He is retired

Great idea or the players get tired playing 3 rubbers.it woud also give the captain some REAL work to do.

I'm not even sure if the tournament is so necessary- while football is a team game, so you have a team championships which is the biggest tournie in the game, tennis is an individual sport, with the biggest tournaments for individuals. So why not have individual davis cup-like the olympics, but only the best of each country enters, say draw is:

Great Britain 1 vs USA 2
Great Britain 2 vs USA 1

Switzserland 1 vs Spain2
Switzerland 2 vs Spain2.

Winners of each match play the winners of the match next to them, then the final winers play in the final. So while there are still ties of sorts, it is still individuals who compete. And you could have the same countrymen play themselves.


...something like that :blush:

All I can say is spare us from any more humiliating Davis Cup defeats for G.B :doh: :doh: