A three billion dollar deal is too big to ignore as authorities target revamp of the Davis Cup but doing away with the home and away format is not "ideal" since it is the DNA of the competition, says India's captain Mahesh Bhupathi.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will put to test a proposal to create a season-ending World Cup of Tennis, featuring 18 nations.
The matches will be played over a week at a single venue in the traditional week of Davis Cup final in November, abolishing the home and away format for ties in the elite World Group.
The idea, approved by the ITF Board of Directors, will be put to vote in August in Orlando and needs two-thirds majority to become a reality.
It's being speculated that ITF is under pressure to get more top players to participate in Davis Cup. There are instances when top players, in the wake of an already crammed schedule, have skipped ties.
Bhupathi said, Davis Cup was still "relevant".
"Davis Cup is special and all the top players have committed to it at some point. Tennis needs to be driven by innovation and revenue and if there is a three billion dollar opportunity there is no way it can be ignored regardless of the sentiment," Bhupathi said.
"Top players always play for their country when they are fit and healthy. A case in point is Rafa (Rafael Nadal) who just played even when he missed Indian Wells and Miami (Masters events).
“It's not about Davis Cup. If a player is injured or tired they miss the biggest events in the world as well like you saw at the london Masters few years in a row," he argued.
However, Bhupathi, winner of 12 Grand Slam titles, said doing away with the home and away ties is not a great idea.
"It will not be ideal because playing at home and dealing with the challenges in away ties is part of the Davis Cup DNA that makes the competition exciting,"Bhupathi said.