Davis Cup format gets an overhaul

The Davis Cup could be transformed into a one-week, one-location, 18-nation World Cup of Tennis in a major overhaul aimed at enticing the best men’s players to play.

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are among the stars to have reacted positively to the creation of an annual season-ending event, starting in 2019, that will have a total purse of $20 million.

“We think the change we are making will make it so much more appealing and tangible to the top players,” David Haggerty, president of the International Tennis Federation, told The Associated Press on Monday.

Established in 1900, the Davis Cup has struggled for relevance at times in recent years because many top players have chosen not to play. In this revamp, the World Cup of Tennis would be played over seven days in the traditional week of the Davis Cup final, rather than across four weekends in February, July, September and November. It would comprise a round-robin format followed by a quarterfinal knockout stage. Each tie would be best-of-three sets and consist of two singles and a doubles. Sixteen teams would automatically qualify for the finals, and two more would be selected.

The ITF board unanimously endorsed the proposal, which will be submitted at the ITF’s annual general meeting in August. Haggerty said a decision on the venue for the inaugural competition will be in four to six weeks.