STORM IN A CUP

CURRENT FORMAT

The Davis Cup, organised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), is played across the calendar year in all corners of the globe.

16 countries, part of ‘World Group’ take part in a knock-out competition starting in February and culminating into the final at a neutral venue in November. Each tie is best-offive-matches, four singles and one doubles.

The ‘World Group’ countries comprise the top teams from three different zones – Americas Zone, Europe/Africa Zone, Asia/Oceania Zone. These three zones have different levels/ groups (I, II, III, IV) and there is provision of relegation and promotion. In total, 130 countries take part in Davis Cup. India last played in the World Group in 2011 and was eliminated in the first round. India reached the final of Davis Cup three times — 1966, 1974 and 1987 — finishing runner-up each time. In September, 2018, India will play a World Group play-off against Serbia.

PROPOSED FORMAT

In the new format, 18 nations shall compete over seven days in November in the traditional week of the Davis Cup Final. The Finals will feature a roundrobin format followed by a quarter-final knockout stage. Each tie will consist of two singles and one doubles over best-of-three sets. The 16 World Group nations will automatically enter Finals, and a further two nations will be selected. There will also be a play-off round held during the Finals which will include the eight nations that qualify from the Zonal Group I events. The eight play-off winners will earn a place in following year’s Finals. There will be no change to the format of zone group competition. In Zone Groups I and II, home-and-away ties will continue to be played during the traditional three weeks in the calendar. Zone Groups III & IV will continue to consist of week-long round-robin events. With two extra berths available in the top tier, India would fancy their chances.