Who has the best Davis Cup team?

[Sherlock 117]

Your theory that players vying for the #1 spot won't play Davis Cup breaks down. Nadal has been playing Davis Cup for his country, he was even closer to #1 last year. Andy Roddick played Davis Cup while he was #1. Your example of Djokovic is interesting, but he has made it widely known one of his major goals is to win the Davis Cup, and that having a team comprised of all his tennis-playing siblings.

I think maybe you just fail to see the pride with which many (a great deal) players play for their country. Many players put their bodies on the line to play 5 set matches for their countries.

The idea you have to set aside a 3 week period would change nothing. In fact, you would see a lot of people who would use it as a 3-week vacation, just as many as use the Davis Cup weeks as vacations now.

What Tennis has is a unique team competition that allows anticipation to build up for an intense weekend of usually incredible tennis. You may say that you don't really get worked up for it, but other people do. Just because you do not does not mean that the tournament is a failure. In contradiction, attendance at Davis Cup event is really starting to rise recently as more and more people find out how thrilling these matches actually are.

You need only have watched some of the recent US matches which are televised to see just how thrilling they are. The US match against Chile was an incredible psychological battle, and Roddicks epic final set earlier in the year was awesome, even though he lost.

Maybe Nadal did feign his injury and is a little more interested in the clay-court season, based on what I've read about him I doubt, but maybe. Let's say I give you that. Okay, now the top 2 players are sitting out of Davis Cup because they are solely focused on themselves. Now explain to me why there are 1500 other professional players who would gladly play for their country and how that fits in with your theory. And after doing that, explain to me just exactly what is so wrong with the competition that so many people would want to play it, even if they don't once they get up to #2.

[Sherlock 117]

Tennis (singles) is an individual sport - and individual accomplishments do carry more weight than playing for one's country. If Nalbandian/Hewitt could choose between winning 10 Grand Slam titles or winning 10 Davis Cup titles, they'd take the Slams. Every player on the tour would choose the same.

Here you are making a statement. It seems to me then that you do not believe tennis should have a team component at all. If I am mistaken then sorry, but this may be why you do not like Davis Cup. You don't see what other people see in the Davis Cup.

[Cro Morgan]

I'm not sure where this "the top players don't play in the Davis Cup" argument originated. That was never my point. My point has always been - the Davis Cup - in it's current state - contested annually - doesn't mean crap to anyone - other than the players who play. Good for the players - not good for the sport of tennis - especially when the ATP/USTA brass (should be) trying to market the sport to a wider audience.

The Olympics are contested once every four years. People who never watch gymnastics, watch gymnastics. People who never watch figure skating, watch figure skating. When someone wins an Olympic medal - knowing that the medal can only be won every four years - it means something. Who gives a crap about the Davis Cup when two months after a champion is crowned, play begins again.

You may care, but you're a tennis fan. Sports fans in general don't care. Why should they? The drama has been sucked out of the event by mismanagement.

Tennis is in a sorry state with it's warped scheduling, ineffective marketing, etc. The Davis Cup formula is part of the problem, which, in my opinion, desperately needs correcting.

The Davis Cup should be a huge assest in promoting the great game of tennis. It isn't.

[Sherlock 117]

"The top players don't play in the Davis Cup" argument originated with you.

Nalbandian, Hewitt, Henman, Robredo, Ancic, Ljubicic and "all the great players who dedicate themselves to representing their countries" would also forgo the Davis Cup if they were in Federer/Nadal's position. The Davis Cup - in it's current state - just isn't that important - certainly not as important as winning a record number of Slams, defending a Roland Garros title, etc.

You are essentially saying anybody that has a chance to get to the top will not play Davis Cup.

Very good point about the Olympics. But there is already a tennis tournament in the Olympics that takes place once every four years or so. Why add another and just copy UEFA and soccer?

The reason Davis Cup does not attract many people is because many people do not even know about it, not because of the format. The situation would be the same if they switched to a different format. I get what you are saying about after the win the competition starts again in two months, but you could make the same case for Roland Garros.

[Sherlock 117]

I just checked out the ATP site, and I guess maybe Roger skipped out on Davis Cup so that he could get ready to unveil his new Swiss stamp

[Cro Morgan]

Okay, it's becoming increasingly apparent that we're gonna have to settle this argument in the ring. Give me five years to get in shape and I'll meet you in ... where do you live, Minnesota? Okay, I'll meet you half-way ... see you in Chicago, April 2012. Look for me ... I'll be the very in-shape dude wearing the "Davis Cup Sucks" t-shirt.

[Sherlock 117]

lol, I hope by then to be playing professionally though (we have to have big dreams) and so maybe you can instead come and watch a futures tournament and I'll beat you up with my racket on the court. I'll be the 6'5 guy who is serving and volleying down your throat.

Maybe I'll be playing Davis Cup by then...

[Sherlock 117]

So I was looking at the Houston draw tonight. I noticed something you will especially appreciate Neanderpaul judging by your reaction to Nadal's situation. Andy Roddick was able to play Davis Cup, but he withdrew from Houston...

[Johnnn Boyyy]

yeah i dunno why fed didn't play, i read that about the stamp too, and he bragged about how much time he had off, why not spend it playing davis cup?! what else do you have to do? send some mail with your face on it?! but roddick is truly patriotic and many people are about davis cup its just tennis isn't as popular everywhere in the world like soccer is. i mean who cares about the ryder cup for golf?! the players and no fans? there just aren't as many fans for tennis as for major sports like soccer and basketball. but for those little fans they have, it means something to them as well, not just the players. even the ryder cup. i do agree however that davis cup would be more prestigious if it wasn't played every year. every 2 years would make it a rare event and more of an achievement to win. some countries get lucky with their draws and end up winning. so i dunno. but this is my last post. i'll be leaving the tour to focus more on school and on my future than on video games. it was fun meeting you all though. see ya around, if you ever want a match of tp2 then add me on live and when i'm on maybe we can play. later though.

[MStich]

While playing davis cup Roddick apparently reinjured his left knee.

I guess the swiss simply lack good players other than federer, so it wouldn't help too much..
In the end he gains no atp points and might injure himself..
Not very patriotic of course but reasonable.

[mcfed]

But it's not true if anybody would say Federer never plays Davis Cup. For example he did when Switzerland was in the playoffs.
Furthermore I think he would even play Davis Cup if Switzerland would reach the quarterfinals one time.

Like Sherlock said most players want to play for their country. I heard Baghdatis already did with 15 years

[MStich]

That's right, I'm pretty sure I heard something to the extent that Federer would play if Switzerland advanced to a certain stage (last year?).
The same might be true for nadal (even if he doesn't admit it).