Coco Gauff’s ex-coach says Davis Cup format ‘needs full revamp’

Speaking on the Big T podcast, the American coach, known for his time working with Andre Agassi and Coco Gauff, said: “I don’t like the format changes that have been made now. The greatness of the Davis Cup and the BJK Cup was home and away ties.

“What needs fixing is the players need to support it. If the players don’t support it, it doesn’t matter what it is. So that bothers me because way back in the day, it was one of the great events, a cornerstone of the calendar.

“But we can say, it totally needs to be revamped, but if they do that, and the players don’t play, it’s a waste of time no matter what they do in my opinion.”

Nick Monroe, his co-host, pointed out that travel demands play a role too. He noted how some matchups force players into long journeys immediately after tournaments elsewhere.

The timing of these comments came just after a weakened US team lost their Billie Jean King Cup tie against Belgium – a defeat few had predicted.

When asked whether changing how often matches are held could help address these issues, Gilbert replied: “I’m thinking it should either be every two years or every four years. You know or maybe like the Ryder Cup but certainly not every year.

“And when you win it you have to start back you know. But I don’t like this where they go to quarters at a neutral site. And then if your country doesn’t travel it seems like inconsequential.”

Calls Grow for Davis Cup to move to a four-year cycle

While Brad Gilbert hasn’t come out directly in support of holding the Davis Cup every four years, there are already reasons backing such a move.

It would also help give more meaning to the idea of the tournament as tennis’s version of a World Cup, putting it in line with how international events are spaced out in other major sports.

With fewer editions, each one could feel more important for both fans and players. The longer gap between tournaments might make it harder for top players to skip, something that happens quite often under the current setup.

This change could also fix some of Gilbert’s concerns about player support and scheduling, as a less frequent event might draw more interest and commitment from across the sport.