Legacy Leaders Magazine


Switzerland were knocked out by Belgium 3-2. Roger Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam winner, and world number four Stan Wawrinka, weren’t present for the Swiss.

Without world number one Djokovic, Serbia got trounced 4-1 by Argentina in the quarter-final, while France did without Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet in their tussle with Britain at Queens. At the same stage of the championship, Belgium beat Canada, who were without their top man Milos Raonic.

The Davis Cup is different when the big boys make themselves available.

In 2014, Switzerland won because Federer and Wawrinka played. In 2013, the Czechs were pushed to the wire by the Serbs because Berdych and Djokovic both engaged with it and were immense. In 2011, Spain won because Nadal played and won every match and because he had David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez for company.

The issue with it is that it happens every year, so if you miss it once you don’t have long to wait for it to come around again.

The Ryder Cup in golf is every two years, and all eligible players bust a gut to play in it. A football World Cup is every four years and you wouldn’t find Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar taking a sabbatical while it’s on.

The Davis Cup exists in a category all by itself. It’s big enough to provoke unforgettable scenes on court, and off, in its aftermath. But the fact remains that its status as a world-class event of global sporting significance is too often compromised by the roll call of elite players who, in the vernacular, can’t fit it into their schedule.



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