The current Davis Cup layout has lost its spark to the point where it has become a "great shame" according to former Australia team captain Wally Masur.
Since 2019, the competition has moved away from best-of-five sets to best-of-three sets, scrapping home and away fixtures in favour of one designated destination for which the Spanish city of Málaga currently holds the rights.
Masur, who is still involved with Tennis Australia, coached the green and gold from 2001 and 2005 to help clinch the country’s most recent Davis Cup title, but also experienced a one-year stint as captain between 2015 and 2016.
Speaking on Fanatic Clubhouse’s Deuce podcast hosted by presenters Adam Peacock and Julie Snook, the former world No.15 expressed his disappointment about the Davis Cup system.
"It's sad because [the] Davis Cup home and away format was absolutely massive," said Masur.
"I was on the periphery of the team in the early 80s when Australia played Sweden all those years ago. I got a chance to have a 10-year Davis Cup career and then get involved in coaching.
"So many great things come to my mind [about] that whole home and away set up. Lleyton Hewitt beating Gustavo Kuerten in Brazil, Pat Cash just losing the final at the Australian Open and then flew to Mexico City [playing] an incredible two matches on clay at 8,000 feet [above sea level]. Really good memories."
Part of the reason why the magic has evaporated comes down to the lack of colourful and hostile atmospheres in different parts of the world.
"When you go to South America, the crowds are pretty raucous," Masur admitted. "I played a match in Peru and they were throwing coins at me. You're copping coins in the face and looking at you're captain saying, 'Is this okay?', and he's just [saying] 'Just keep your head down and get out of here alive'."
When asked what changes he would make to the format if he were in power, the 61-year-old put forward suggestions.
"I would love it to go back to the old way [to] home and away," Masur said.
"Paul McNamee had a suggestion that maybe the Davis Cup should be played over two years because you do want the best players playing.
"But the schedule is so tight now, it's so packed and there's so many events. It's such a rigorous athletic sport now that sometimes the top players bypass the Davis Cup and that's a great shame.
"The week [Davis Cup Finals] has to be valued in the calendar along with the Slams, they're very important, you build a calendar around it, but I'm not sure that's going to happen."
Masur also mentioned two-time major finalist and former world No.8 Mark Philippoussis to clear up a misperception about his commitment towards Australia.
Philippoussis guided the Aussies to two Davis Cup crowns in 1999 and 2003 respectively.
Criticised at times for opting not to travel with the national team for Davis Cup duty, the Melbourne-born talent received unfair treatment as indicated by his former teammate.
"[He was] misunderstood. You have to remember, he won a Davis Cup final in France in the late 90s, and he was a giant on the clay which is hard to do for an Australian. He was an amazing player for Australia," Masur explained.
"Just a little aside... When he won that final match against Spain to win us the Davis Cup, he actually, at the back end of the fourth set, tore his pec. We got a breather where there was an injury timeout [and] he had a golf ball pop out of his chest.
"Mark had so much easy power that he kind of just went within himself, played extremely accurately. I don't know how he did it, but he won that final set.
"He was a giant for Australia in Davis Cup, absolutely."
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