{"id":288243,"date":"2023-09-19T19:36:13","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T19:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=288243"},"modified":"2023-09-19T19:36:13","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T19:36:13","slug":"davis-cup-chief-hits-back-at-stan-wawrinka-after-tournament-row-escalates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/tennis\/davis-cup-chief-hits-back-at-stan-wawrinka-after-tournament-row-escalates\/","title":{"rendered":"Davis Cup chief hits back at Stan Wawrinka after tournament row escalates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former tennis player and committee chair of the Davis Cup,\u00a0Mark Woodforde, has criticised Stan Wawrinka after he posted a video on social media showing the empty stands at this year’s tournament.\u00a0The\u00a0World No. 40 was at the AO Arena in Manchester where he filmed the scenes during\u00a0Switzerland’s tie with France.<\/p>\n
The video, posted on X, shows an almost empty stadium with just a handful of fans in attendance. The scenes were a stark contrast to the\u00a0almost 9,000 spectators who were in attendance to watch\u00a0Britain’s tie with Australia.<\/p>\n
The clip has angered Davis Cup\u00a0committee chair Woodforde who was quick to speak out against\u00a0Wawrinka and his\u00a0post.\u00a0“It’s in the minority some of those voices, some of them are politically motivated, which is unnecessary,” Woodforde said.<\/p>\n
“Stan created a bit of a furor by filming the stands. We’re always welcome to having feedback, it’s unfortunate he did it in such a public way.”<\/p>\n
\nThank you @3gerardpique @ITFTennis<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Woodforde may have also been angered by\u00a0Wawrinka’s comments on Friday where he slammed the lack of an “atmosphere” at the tournament. \u201cWe see the difference between today and three days ago \u2013 it\u2019s not normal,”\u00a0Wawrinka said via The Independent.<\/p>\n
“I played some Challenger tournaments this year and there were way more people and a way better atmosphere than when we played France.”<\/p>\n
Wawrinka is not the only tennis player to hit out at the lack of fans at the tournament. Australia’s\u00a0Lleyton Hewitt also claims that the lack of fans in attendance has been a “disaster.”<\/p>\n
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“Playing in front of 500 or 1000 people, it’s not the same. But as I’ve told my team all the time, the pride comes in wearing the green and gold, so for us no matter what the format is, we’re still gonna go out there and leave it all on the line.<\/p>\n
“But do I agree this format is good? No, not for a minute. We’ve gotta get rid of people at the top. We’ve seen what’s happened, it was meant to be a 25-year thing and it’s turned into a four-year disaster.<\/p>\n
“So until changes are made, we’re gonna sit back and go through exactly the same stuff every year. I can say until the cows come home, but they’ve really screwed it up.”<\/p>\n
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