The Int'l Tennis Federation BOD has "approved a plan to stage the final phases of the Davis Cup men’s team competition and the Fed Cup women’s team competition together the next three years," according to Christopher Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. The ITF also "approved the first site for the new combined, annual event: Geneva, which was selected from a list of six finalists" that included Turin, Wuhan, Miami, Istanbul and Copenhagen. ITF President David Haggerty said, "I look at this as the transformation of Davis Cup and Fed Cup with one of the most significant reforms in tennis for many years. I think what we are doing is taking these two events and creating the World Cup of tennis." Clarey notes the decision "requires final approval by a two-thirds majority" of the ITF's full membership. The new event could "last from five to nine days, depending on the format, and would be held in the Davis Cup final’s traditional time slot, in late November." Haggerty said that he "saw the combined event as 'a weeklong tennis festival' with 'legend tennis, entertainment and maybe some junior activity' mixed in." Both events have "struggled for traction in recent years, with top men’s players frequently skipping and criticizing the Davis Cup." Haggerty and the ITF BOD "hope to reverse that trend by generating increased buzz and revenue with the new event." WTA CEO Steve Simon has "expressed support." Haggerty also said that he had "received preliminary support" from ATP Exec Chair & President Chris Kermode. However, the ATP could "soon be in competition with the Davis Cup if it approves a new World Team Cup event that could be started" as early as '19 and would most likely be "staged in what is now the off-season" (NYTIMES.com, 6/28).
