Currently, 16 men’s teams play in Davis Cup’s top division in a home-and-away formatGETTY IMAGES
The ITF yesterday announced arguably the "biggest change to the Davis Cup since its creation in 1900," transforming its top level into a "weeklong event in November involving 18 nations, with best-of-three-set matches played at a single site," according to Christopher Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. The ITF said it is being done through a 25-year, $3B partnership with an "international investment group" headed by FC Barcelona D Gerard Piqué. The proposal "requires final approval in August by the ITF’s general membership." The plan is to implement the overhaul for '19, but approval "is far from guaranteed." Currently, 16 men’s teams play in Davis Cup’s top division, known as the World Group, in a "home-and-away format over four rounds interspersed throughout the season, and all live matches are best of five sets." ITF President David Haggerty is convinced that "big moves are necessary to keep the event relevant." Haggerty said, "We know the environment has changed in tennis over the last few years. Players are playing later in their careers. It’s a very physical sport, so I think many factors were taken into account." He added that the partnership with Kosmos, the investment firm headed by Piqué and backed Rakuten Founder, Chair & CEO Hiroshi Mikitani, would provide more than $20M in "prize money for the players in the final phase each year." If the $3B figure is correct, it would also "provide the ITF, whose main source of revenue is Davis Cup, with an unheard-of influx of cash to fund its own activities" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/27). The ITF said that "'several world-class cities' have already expressed interest in hosting the event" (PA, 2/27).
A DEEPER LOOK: In Australia, Courtney Walsh notes in the proposal a tie will "constitute two singles rubbers and a doubles." A rubber will be "played over the best-of-three sets." And nations will "compete, round-robin format, in three groups of six prior to a knockout stage for an event named The World Cup of Tennis Finals." Some players, such as Andy Roddick, have "applauded the move." Roddick said that it will "help revive the competition." However, many are "concerned it will strip the Davis Cup of the characteristics that made it great." There is "no doubt that the competition needed tinkering amid concerns elite players picked and chose when to participate." There are also "understandable concerns about the cost of a competition that runs annually and covers the globe." By confining the Davis Cup to a week, it is "obvious the ITF is hoping every single star will compete." But the timing of the competition in late November could "make that challenging given players, some of whom complain about the length of the season as it is, are usually relaxing at that time" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/27). Tennis Channel’s James Blake said the format shakeup was a "much bigger change" than he expected but added he was “excited about it.” Blake: “If they can squeeze it into one week instead of four weeks throughout the year and shave three weeks off the entire schedule, then I think the players will be all for it.” But Tennis Channel’s Lindsay Davenport said by playing it in one week “you lose that intimacy with your teammates and also that special feeling you get playing home and away.” Davenport added of no announcement about changing the Fed Cup format, “What’s the deal? It’s only the men’s that is changing, it’s only the men’s that it’s important enough to announce?" (“Tennis Channel Live,” Tennis Channel, 2/26).
MOVERS & SHAKERS: The AP's Steve Douglas noted Piqué has been a "big driver behind the overhaul." He personally "presented the proposal to the ITF board in Barcelona on Saturday." Haggerty said of Piqué, "He has had conversations with players, and the players council. The players are very supportive of this idea." He added, "I know that Gerard has had some conversations over the last few days and had positive comments from Andy Murray, from Novak Djokovic" (AP, 2/26). In London, Simon Briggs notes Piqué is "clearly convinced that team tennis is a golden ticket." The whole deal is still "subject to approval at the ITF’s annual general meeting in August." But the money involved is "likely to convince the required two-thirds of the participating nations to support the proposals." Another issue in the "backstage maneuverings" is that the ATP had been "planning to set up a rival team competition -- under the working title of the World Team Cup -- in January" in '20. Indeed, the ATP had "been in talks with Piqué himself on this very scheme." But when they could "not agree on a workable date for the WTC, Piqué returned to the ITF." Now the new Davis Cup format is "intended to begin next year, subject to approval, while the WTC has been shelved for the meantime" (London TELEGRAPH, 2/27). Tennis Australia ambassador Todd Woodbridge said, "The ITF has thrown this bomb into the tennis landscape. I don’t think they’ve gone back to the players and said 'this is what we’re doing'" (AAP, 2/27). French Davis Cup Captain Yannick Noah said, "Such sadness. They sold the soul of a historic competition" (TWITTER.com, 2/27).
TWITTER REAX:Most Twitter reaction to the planned reforms was positive. Former tennis player Mardy Fish: "Moving to a 1 week event at the end of the year is LONG overdue. Now just make it every other year and we are cookin." The BBC's David Law: "Great move by the ITF by the looks of things." ESPN's Brad Gilbert: "Much needed change for @DavisCup is coming." Tennis broadcaster Ravi Ubha: "Ask the fans and the huge majority would say leave the Davis Cup the way it is. Unparalleled atmosphere. Ask the players and the huge majority would say it needed changing. A big chasm." But former player Paul Henri Mathieu tweeted: "RIP old Davis Cup! You were an outstanding competition."
