Djokovic favors format tweaks

Serbian superstar wants round-robin play adopted by Olympics, Davis Cup

Novak Djokovic is a fan of the round-robin format in tennis, and he would like to see it adopted by the Olympics and the Davis Cup.

Djokovic, who is chasing the year-end No 1 ranking this week at the season-ending tournament, praised the system at the ATP Finals, where players can lose a match in the first round and still advance to the semifinals.

"I think this format is exciting," Djokovic said on Thursday after winning his third straight match at the tournament.

"I mean, look, it's the only tournament in the year that we have this kind of format. I like playing in the round-robin system."

Djokovic, who lost to eventual silver medalist Juan Martin del Potro in the first round at the Rio de Janeiro Games, said he thinks the format could be used at the Olympics.

"I guess you play more matches," said Djokovic, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

"The people like to see the top players in at least a couple of matches in the tournament. It gives more value to the event."

Djokovic also criticized the Davis Cup, a team tournament spread out through the year. He proposed condensing it to make it easier on the top players.

"Once a year ... two weeks, have a round-robin format," Djokovic said. "Have teams play in different locations, then come together in one location and play a knockout stage, quarterfinals, semifinals, final four, whatever.

"It's a no-brainer - and I'm not the only one to have this kind of opinion about it.

"Many of the players have been talking about this format and the schedule, top players especially."

Djokovic also said the three-day, best-of-five set system could be cut to two days and best-of-three matches. But he said the International Tennis Federation hasn't been receptive to change.

"The only thing they wanted to change is the neutral final, I think for next year or the year after that... and nobody agrees with that," Djokovic said.

"Again, you're taking away from the players the one thing we love about the Davis Cup, which is the home tie, the home crowd.

"I don't know how the future of the Davis Cup will look, but there is definitely something that has to change radically."

Show more respect

Djokovic also called for officials to show more respect after the world No 2 was warned for taking too long between points in his 6-1, 6-2 win over David Goffin on Thursday.

Djokovic was given a time violation by umpire Fergus Murphy when he took a lengthy pause after losing a long rally in the first set.

The Serb responded by having an increasingly animated discussion with Murphy at the end of the game, which included Djokovic appearing to say the official "had no clue" about the game.

Djokovic also vented his frustrations to tournament supervisor Tom Barnes before finally focusing on the match and, while conceding he sometimes takes too long between points, he insisted officials should take a softer approach before handing out warnings.

"First of all, I accept and I know that I'm one of the players that takes the most time. There is no doubt. I'm not running away from that," Djokovic said.

"Every time that I'm late, if I get a so-called soft warning or pre-warning, I'll accept it and I won't say a word.

"But I think it's fair, correct and respectful towards the player and to the game if you go over the first time, let's say, over the limit, that you at least get a heads up.

"That's all I'm asking for, to be honest.

"I know that the rules are strict. But there should be a kind of a feel, a sense for the game.

"It was the fourth game of the match, after a long point, the first time I went over, a few seconds, and he gives me a warning.

"I didn't think that was supported by the facts. That's why I wanted to have a conversation and understand why."

It was not the first time Djokovic has been involved in an altercation this week, after he slammed a ball into the crowd during his match against Dominic Thiem and then had a testy exchange with a journalist about the incident.

Raonic storms into semis

Novak Djokovic had already qualified for the semifinals after winning his opening two matches. The second semifinal spot from the group went to Milos Raonic, who beat Dominic Thiem 7-6(5), 6-3 on Thursday night.

The big-hitting Canadian maintained his remarkable success in London this year with a powerful display that secured the runner-up spot in the group.

WorldNo 4 Raonic, who enjoyed impressive runs to the Wimbledon and Queen's finals on the other side of the capital in the summer, vanquished Thiemin 90 minutes to reach his ninth semifinal of the year.

Raonic, who lost the Wimbledon final to Andy Murray, ended up with 13 aces and 31 winners against Thiem.

"I stepped up when I had an opportunity in the tie-break. I stepped up at the beginning of the second set and the end of it," Raonic said.

"There's definitely a lot to be proud of, playing under that kind of pressure."

Raonic also said he got some tips this week from John McEnroe, who worked with him during the grass-court season.

"He shares a lot of wisdom with me, a lot of his opinions. I respect that," Raonic said. "It was a big plus."

Agencies

(China Daily 11/19/2016 page9)