Andre Agassi believes the Davis Cup is too time-consuming for top players and wants a change in format to entice the biggest names in tennis to take part.
The American veteran, who came out of Davis Cup retirement for his country's first round loss to Croatia in California this month, said: "It's not realistic to expect all the players to play all the time. The schedule is difficult as it is.
"The wear and tear on one's body these days versus when I first came on is a whole different animal.
"Guys hit the ball bigger, every movement is more violent. There's much more injury. It's harder to do this for a long period of time, playing Davis Cup every year. For all the players to play all the time, a change would have to be made."
Top 10 players such as Swiss Roger Federer, Spain's Carlos Moya and Britain's Tim Henman have all chosen not to play Davis Cup this year - Henman has retired from the competition completely - to save their bodies for grand slam and tour events.
Agassi said he had not spoken to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) about a change in the format and admitted he had no suggestions how the competition should be restructured.
But he said: "We agree in bigger terms that it would be great to have all the best players playing and a format that works," he said.
"Davis Cup takes tennis to a lot of places that wouldn't normally get a chance to see it. It generates a lot of interest and economics.
- REUTERS
Tennis: Agassi calls for new-look Davis Cup
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