REPORTAGE
The Davis Cup kicked off Monday in Madrid and for this new edition, the 119-year-old race is getting a makeover with a new formula. The principle ? The tournament takes place in one city and in one week. Symbol of renewal, it is written "World Cup tennis" on some billboards and not Davis Cup. The atmosphere, in the bays, is anything, without soul. The contrast is striking compared to the recent Fed Cup finals in Australia, which thrilled tennis fans.
At the opening ceremony, which took place in front of two-thirds empty stands, the slogan was "a new era, the same spirit". That's good because they feared that the Davis Cup spirit would be lost with this new format, over a week, with clashes in three games played in two sets winners, that the association of French fans decided to boycott the competition.
Economic considerations
The Belgians are there. They are fifty and have chosen to make the trip, while regretting the turn taken: "It's the world of money, we remain Belgian and we love Belgium, the love of our players, so we're here! " They are there and fortunately because Belgium-Colombia began Monday in front of little furnished stands.
It was economic considerations that led to this change. The organizing federations complained of the high cost and the lack of stars. So when the company Kosmos of Barça player Gérard Piqué put on the table 3 billion dollars (2.7 billion euros) over 25 years to organize the event, not to mention a prize money of 27 million dollars ( 24.4 million euros), the international federation jumped at the opportunity. And Spain is organizing a good home Davis Cup in the presence of its world number one, Rafael Nadal. Here in Madrid, five top 10 players will be present.
"I was confused when I came here"
On the French side, captain Sébastien Grosjean can count on his best players, including Gaël Monfils and the Herbert-Mahut pair, who have just been crowned at the Masters in London. Nicolas Mahut is dubious about this new formula: "I was a little confused when I arrived here, I see 'World Cup' panels, 'Davis Cup' panels ... For now, I do not know which competition I'm going We do not know what will be the affluence, we will not have our supporters but I hope that there will be the same thrills at the time of La Marseillaise . The Blues play their first game in the competition on Tuesday morning against Japan.