No plans to change Davis Cup format – ITF
There are many people who don’t like the new Davis Cup format, but the International Tennis Federation (ITF) will stick with it despite ending its partnership with investment group Kosmos.
Earlier this month, veteran French player Nicolas Mahut complained: “We lost Davis Cup for four years. We should never have allowed that.”
And Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt lamented the end of the first two legs of last season’s finals in Spain.
“I know how much it meant to me as a player to have the opportunity to play in finals, so I’m really happy that these guys get this chance,” he said.
“But I would love to be in Australia. I’m disappointed the boys can’t play Rod Laver Arena before 15,000.”
However, it looks like the finals week will stand, despite the ITF, the sport’s governing body, ending their partnership after five years of their 25-year deal.
The deal with Kosmos – spearheaded by former Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique – had resulted in a complete overhaul of the competition founded in 1900, scrapping the usual home and away games played a few weekends a year.
That format was replaced in 2019 with just a home and away game, followed by 18 teams battling it out in one city for a week-long pinnacle of the season.
This year, the group stage will take place from 12-17 September in four venues and will feature 16 teams, with eight teams progressing to the knockout rounds in Malaga in November.
“We are very enthusiastic about the format that we have. When you go back to the old format, the problem was that players had to play four weeks a year,” said ITF President David Haggerty.
“They didn’t know where they were playing. They didn’t know what weeks they were playing and they didn’t know who their opponents were. That was one of the main reasons we went through the consultation and made the changes for the 2019 edition.
“We like that it is defined. We want to make sure we have the best players competing and that we have fans in the stadium and followers around the world.
“Last year we aired in more than 200 countries and territories so it ticks all of those boxes and ensures we continue to build on the strength of the competition.”
The London-based ITF said last month it had the finances to run the 2023 competition and Haggerty said it was in “robust financial shape”.
“The board planned the Davis Cup with Kosmos and without Kosmos,” he added.
He added that the ITF will work with the ATP to find ways to improve competition.
“We will continue to find good partners, like-minded partners and sponsors.”
