Rafael Nadal says Davis Cup three set solution not enough

According to Rafael Nadal, the introduction of the best of three set matches in the Davis Cup won't be enough to attract the best players in the game to the 117-year old tournament.  

But for Nadal, this isn’t enough. He was quoted as saying, "In my opinion, it is not about best-of-three or best-of-five."

Nadal believes that the ITF has too often focused on the "small picture" and has been satisfied with the Davis Cup final featuring just one big name player, even if the other top players stay away from the opening rounds, so as not to affect their regular schedules.

Nadal has urged the ITF to preserve the legacy of the tournament by saying, “(the) Davis Cup is a beautiful competition, a very emotional competition. To maintain that level of emotion, that level of quality of tennis, you need to do the things for the best players. And the best players need to feel comfortable playing every time that Davis Cup is going”.

“You know, you finish Davis Cup, last tournament of the year, December, and then in January, you start again. And it's tough".

Nadal has suggested that a new Davis Cup champion should be crowned every three years saying, “I don't mean one year Davis Cup, one year no Davis Cup. I mean, for example, two ties per year. That will be something reasonable and players will be very motivated to play Davis Cup."

On Friday as he prepared to begin his Indian Wells campaign, he was open to the possibility of featuring in the quarter-final tie that might also star World No. 2 Novak Djokovic.

Nadal concluded by saying, “I cannot say if I will be there or not, but it's obvious that the moment of the season is not a good one for me because I need to prepare myself for clay”.