Krajan: Davis Cup Madrid Finals have 'huge potential'
Croatia captain Zeljko Krajan believes the Davis Cup Madrid Finals have “huge potential” as the staging of the inaugural 18-team event at Caja Magica draws ever nearer.
Defending champions Croatia are bidding to become the first nation to successfully defend their Davis Cup title since Czech Republic in 2013 when the new-look week-long extravaganza gets underway on 18 November.
Krajan’s charges will open the action on Centre Court when they do battle with Russia, while hosts and five-time winners Spain are the other team to have been drawn in Group B.
The six group winners along with the two best second-placed teams will advance to the quarter-finals, and Krajan is optimistic about the capacity of the Finals to excite and entertain.
“I’m looking forward to the Finals,” said Krajan. “It is something new and while we are not sure what we are going in to, there is a lot of potential. It can be a great event and we wish the organisers, Kosmos and the ITF, all the best.
“The first year is going to be very, very important as we need to see what the future looks like and also to ensure that the players are satisfied so they can promote it in a positive way.
“As I say, the event has a lot of potential. Having 18 of the best teams in the world in one place is something that tennis has never had before.
“The opportunities are huge and I just hope the people who are running it and who are behind it know how to use it and how to make Davis Cup as interesting as it was, as people remember the competition differently.
“Some of the fans regret that the change was made but the change was made because the players wanted it. That is the most important thing and now it is on the organisers to deliver a spectacular event.”
Krajan was speaking at this week’s ITF World Champions Dinner in Paris during which his side’s Davis Cup exploits in 2018 – victory over reigning champions France in Lille saw Croatia crowned tournament winners for the second time – were celebrated.
Following an opening victory for Borna Coric over Jeremy Chardy, Marin Cilic, who suffered heartbreak in the 2016 final against Argentina, came to the fore and triumphed in two singles matches as Croatia prevailed 3-1.
“It was a key moment and one of the best things that ever happened but I couldn’t remember match point for a couple of days afterwards,” added Krajan. “Of course, I do now and the memories from that final are just unbelievable.
“Playing away from home in front of 22,000 spectators motivated us, as did playing a few months after our football team lost in the final of the World Cup [against France in Moscow].
“The experience of 2016, when we came really close to winning it but didn’t make it, was also another motivation. For me, the more time that passes, the greater the achievement of winning Davis Cup in 2018 becomes.”