Davis Cup shake-up plans approved

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Proposals to revamp the Davis Cup into a season-ending 18-team event were backed by national federations at the International Tennis Federation annual general meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday.

The makeover to one of sport’s most famous and oldest international men’s team tournaments has been a contentious issue within tennis but the ITF’s plans to stage a World Cup-style tournament from 2019 received the necessary two-thirds majority from its 210 member nations.

The vote was far from unanimous though, with the plans only passed by a 71.43 percent majority and criticism coming from some players and federations.

Founded in 1900, the Davis Cup has suffered in recent years because so many top players have opted out of playing the three-day ties during the season.

Many think the ties are too demanding, played at awkward times of the calendar and do not provide sufficient rewards. Up to five matches are contested during each tie, with the players battling out best-of-five-set matches until the tie is decided. Dead rubbers are trimmed to best-of-three sets.

The first edition of the new event, which has the backing of an investment group Kosmos led by Spanish international footballer Gerard Pique, will be held in Madrid or Lille from November 18-24, 2019 with the inaugural host city to be announced in the coming weeks.

The new event will feature matches played over the best-of-three sets, culminating in a week-long tournament to determine the world champions.

ITF President David Haggerty hailed the transformation, saying: “This new event will create a true festival of tennis and entertainment which will be more attractive to players, to fans, to sponsors and to broadcasters.”

Pique, describing this as one of the happiest days of his life, said: “The agreement ratified by the nations certainly guarantees the future of the Davis Cup and the development of tennis at all levels.”

Gerard Pique, Founder of the Kosmos sports group and Barcelona player celebrates after the Davis Cup vote at the ITF annual general meeting in Orlando. /VCG Photo

'Black day' for Davis Cup?

Certain reactions to the vote mourned the death of the Davis Cup or a sellout move with Britain, Germany and Australia among those opposing the plan.

"Today is a black day for the Davis Cup. Something with an immense tradition has been lost and it will never be the same again," the Czech Republic Davis Cup team posted on Facebook. "We are sorry that the Davis Cup will never be what it was."

"For us, the result is a bitter disappointment which has left us stunned," said German federation president Ulrich Klaus.

Tennis Australia was "extremely disappointed with the radical changes," the federation said in a statement.

"Reform is vital for the competition but this proposal takes away too much of what makes the Davis Cup unique and special... the ITF now has a major responsibility to ensure the great heritage and prestige of the competition is somehow retained in this new version of Davis Cup."

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash described it in a tweet as “a sad day for men’s tennis”, accusing organizers of “fooling themselves” if they thought top players would be attracted to compete.

(With input from agencies)