Davis Cup: Boris Becker advocates reform:”He’s a little dusty.”

Boris Becker believes that the Davis Cup’s current format is outdated and wishes for change:”It’s the most important and oldest team competition in tennis, but it’s a bit dusty,”said the 50-year-old at the Laureus World Sport Awards in Monaco:”We have to find changes,” Becker also confirmed that he was not interested in being a coach for Alexander Zverev.

Becker explained:”The current format of four games – when you reach the final – is almost impossible to do in terms of time and sport. At least not for a world-class player every year.”

There are many new ideas to “use tennis and press a new format”, said Becker, adding in view of the latest proposal by the World Tennis Federation ITF to introduce the “World Cup of Tennis”:”It is good that the ITF wants to create a new format over a week or ten days. I think it’s supported by the players.”

The ITF’s plan published on Monday provides for the best 18 nations to compete in a competition starting in 2019 every year within one week in November. A partnership with the investment group Kosmos, led by Spanish soccer star Gerard Pique, is also expected to generate billions of dollars over the next 25 years.

DTB Vice President Dirk Hordorff told the SID:”The proposal lacks any substance,”DTB Vice President Dirk Hordorff said to the SID:”Implementing the plan would mean nothing more than abandoning the Davis Cup. I fear that the only profitable ITF competition with more than 100 years of tradition will be conducted in an American way.”

Furthermore, Becker in Monaco, where he chauffeurised the former track bike superstar Chris Hoy and road bike Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara, once again praised Alexander Zverev in the highest tones, but still ruled out a more intensive cooperation.

“He is the best 20 year old tennis player in the world,”said Becker:”In my function as head of men’s tennis at the DTB, it is my job to care for our best. I’d be happy to do that. But to travel with him every week, to train and to organize everything? No, thank you!”

Zverev had recently broken up with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, and rumours arose about a future collaboration with Becker. However, the 50-year-old would like to concentrate on his job at the DTB and as a TV expert at Eurosport.

Zverev, said Becker, was far from being at the end of his development:”The boy is a diamond. We must be happy that we have him,”said the six-time Grand Slam winner of the Fifth World Ranking:”The positions in front of him have been filled. With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, for example. It’s hard to get by fast.”

This might give the impression that Zverev is currently stagnating somewhat. Becker sees things differently:”It’s a matter of time. At some point Sascha will bring this development to an end. The numerous duels of the established top players against the up-and-coming young players are something that makes up for tennis,” said Becker and ennobled Zverev as “the best player of the new generation”.