ITF Approves Overhaul of Davis Cup

(ATR) International Tennis Federation delegates approve a major overhaul of the Davis Cup at the annual general meeting in Orlando, Florida.

The 25-year agreement, funded by the Kosmos investment group founded by soccer player Gerard Pique, represents a total investment of $3 billion into tennis. The money will be used in the global development of the sport and will also mean "a significant increase" in income for the countries competing in the Davis Cup, according to the ITF.

A new player prize fund of $20 million will bring the Davis Cup up to the prize money levels of the Grand Slam tournaments.

"I am delighted that the nations have today voted to secure the long-term status of Davis Cup by BNP Paribas," ITF President David Haggerty said. "By voting in favor of these reforms, we will be able to work with Kosmos to realize the huge potential of the competition and elevate it to new standards."

"In addition, the new revenues for nations that the event will generate will have a transformative effect on the development of tennis in all nations. Our mission is to ensure that this historic decision will benefit the next generation of players for decades to come."

Pique applauded the ITF voters for embracing the changes.

"This is the beginning of a new stage that guarantees the pre-eminent and legitimate place that the Davis Cup should have as a competition for national teams while adapting to the demands of this professional sport at the highest level," Pique said in a statement.

"It is a great honor for me to be part of this historic process of a sport that I am passionate about and, without a doubt, in both personal and professional terms this is one of the happiest days of my life."

Beginning in 2019, the Davis Cup will be condensed from a nearly year-round event to two weeks.

It will begin with a week-long qualifying round in February with 24 countries competing in traditional home and away matches. The 12 winning teams advance to the finals in November.

The four semifinalists from the previous year’s tournament receive byes into the finals. Two wildcard teams will complete the 18 teams to contest a World Cup-style competition that lasts one week. Before the knockout phase, a round-robin format will be used , with matches consisting of two singles and one doubles rubber.

All matches, both singles and doubles, will be best-of-three sets rather than best-of-five.

The first edition of the new event will be held in either Madrid or Lille, with a decision expected to be made by the ITF in the coming weeks.

The players were not consulted in the process. Current world number one Rafael Nadal and former number one Novak Djokovic are among the players in support of the reforms.

But many other current and former players took to social media after Thursday’s vote to criticize the changes. Greg Rusedski, who twice was the world number four, says the reforms go too far.

Very disappointing to hear that the new Davis Cup proposal was passed today. Yes the Davis Cup needed some changes but this I don’t believe is the right formula. I will miss Home and Away ties and many more aspects of the Davis Cup.

— Greg Rusedski (@GregRusedski1) August 16, 2018

Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, doesn't believe the new format will be any better than the old one in getting top players to participate.

Sad day for men’s tennis #ITF have voted for new format of #DavisCup (its no longer Davis Cup) Fooling themselves if they think top players will play a 18 team comp over 1 week at the end of the year???? 🤪

— Pat Cash (@TheRealPatCash) August 16, 2018

Written by Gerard Farek

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