Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup change their formats
The Men’s World Team Tennis Championship, Davis Cup, will have a new format and return to home and away matches from September next year, the International Tennis Federation has announced.
The tournament has undergone a number of changes in recent years, with the most recent format offering a group stage held immediately after the US Open. Four cities hosted groups of four teams, but neutral ground games were poorly attended and players complained of an overly busy schedule.
The International Tennis Federation has now opted to return to seven home or away matches played over two days, with the seven winners joining the host nation in the best-of-eight finals in November.
The Billie Jean King Cup will also offer an eight-team finals tournament next year from the current 12, and to make that transition, a group stage with seven groups of three teams will be held in April. Like Davis Cup, the winners will join the host country for the final eight.
“Today’s news is another positive step for both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup and I am excited about the future of both competitions”, said ITF President, David Haggerty. “The changes to the format aim to build on the success we have seen at both tournaments in recent years and contribute to our long-term ambition to synchronize them as the World Cup of Tennis”, added he.
