Davis Cup Finals changes format and adds more venues ahead of 2021 event

The first edition of the Davis Cup Finals took place in Madrid in November 2019, gathering 18 countries who battled for the trophy at Caja Magica. Spain used the home support advantage to lift the trophy, edging Great Britain in the semis and toppling Canada in the title clash to celebrate with their fans. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Davis Cup Finals had to skip the previous season, with the second edition planned between November 25 - December 5 this year. To avoid the packed schedule and late finishes, the event will spread over 11 days and probably at three different European venues. Two cities should host the group stage and the quarters, with the four best teams moving to Madrid for the semis and the title match.

From 2020, the number of countries will go down to 16, with no wild cards up for grabs. The organizers hope to bring a strong field of players, although it will be tough to gather them at such a late stage of the year, just a couple of weeks before the new season and no ATP points on the table. In 2019, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov, Roberto Bautista Agut, Diego Schwartzman, David Goffin, Nick Kyrgios, Andy Murray, Denis Shapovalov and Fabio Fognini defending their countries' colors.

Davis Cup Finals will take place in November and December.

"We recognize that the most successful tournaments adapt and evolve, and while the inaugural Davis Cup Finals delivered fantastic tennis, it also provided some learnings. We are committed to a long-term vision for this historic competition and are confident these adjustments will enhance players' and fans' experience. With large stadiums providing show courts for all ties, introducing a multi-city event will bring the competition to the widest possible audience. At the same time, we will also ease the burden on players with improvements to the scheduling. Crucially, a revised schedule will allow us to avoid late finishes while providing more rest for players," Davis Cup Finals Tournament Director Albert Costa said.

"The Davis Cup Finals, as the World Cup of Tennis, is a unique event in professional tennis and a fitting finale to the tennis season. The 2019 Finals delivered a memorable spectacle for players and fans while establishing an excellent foundation on which to build. However, it was clear that the 2019 Finals would have benefited from some revisions to the playing and hosting format despite its success. After the disappointment of having to cancel the 2020 edition, we are now focused on delivering the best possible event in 2021," ITF Senior Executive Director, Professional Tennis, Kris Dent said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2XU5QaF