A six-time Grand Slam doubles champion criticised the decision to have the Davis Cup take place so soon after the US Open.
Rajeev Ram was part of the American Davis Cup team that travelled to China to compete in the group stage of the event.
It was a successful campaign for Team USA who finished top of Group C that also included Germany, Chile and Slovakia.
They have now progressed to the Davis Cup Final 8, where they will face either Argentina or Australia in the quarter-finals.
What did Rajeev Ram say about the Davis Cup schedule?
Most players on the ATP and WTA tours competed in the tournaments on the hard courts in North America before competing at the US Open.
The group stage of the Davis Cup commenced just two days after the men’s final at Flushing Meadows, which is a very short turnaround.
To make matters more challenging for those in Group C, they had to travel to the Chinese city of Zhuhai to compete, an extremely long journey for Team USA who travelled from North America. This left Ram furious and he lambasted the decision.
“It’s insane, to be honest. That’s the best way to put it. The fact that we’re going to China to not even play China, is ridiculous and feel free to quote me on saying that. I feel like this new format has its good and its bad, and you can argue it both ways,” the Olympic silver medalist told Christopher Clarey’s Tennis & Beyond website.
“But this is a step past that, to go to a place where we are not even playing a team from there, wherever there might be. The fact that it’s halfway around the world is a little insignificant. I feel like it really takes away from what Davis Cup is all about, which is playing in front of or against a home crowd.
“I realise with this new format when we had the groups in a single place that would only happen once, but at least it would happen once. But four teams that aren’t China playing in China? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Team USA go undefeated in group stage to reach Davis Cup Final 8
The American Davis Cup tam, captained by Bob Bryan, managed to adjust to the time difference and humid conditions in Zhuhai to win each of their group matches in the Davis Cup.
Ram was part of a team that included his doubles partner Austin Krajicek, Reilly Opelka and Brandon Nakashima.
He won his matches against Chile and Slovakia as part of successive 3-0 victories and though Ram lost his match to Germany, USA claimed a 2-1 win to top Group C.
The Americans are now into the quarter-finals and will continue their quest for a record-extending 33rd Davis Cup title.
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