LONDON (Reuters) – The 2021 Davis Cup finals will be held over 11 days instead of seven and will almost certainly be held across three cities, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) confirmed on Monday.
The proposed changes by ITF event partner Kosmos Tennis, the Spanish-based investment company pumping in $ 3 billion over 25 years, have been approved by the ITF Board.
This year’s event is scheduled for 25 November – 5 December.
The ITF has confirmed that two more European cities are being sought to share the finals of 2021 with Madrid who hosted the first edition of the reformed tournament in 2019.
Another change is that the finals will be cut from 18 to 16 teams from 2022.
“We want to make it better for the players, better for the fans and better for the teams,” Kris Dent, ITF Director General, Professional Tennis, told Reuters.
“People like to think that the best teams in the world will come together for one event, but seven days, especially the day after the ATP finals, that is not possible and so those changes that we think will make competition even greater. “
The 121-year-old men’s team event was significantly revived in 2019 with the all-season home and away tie form replacing the World Cup football format with the top 18 nations fighting for the title. at Caja Magica in Madrid in November.
While there was praise for the new event that ended with Rafa Nadal forcing Spain to beat Canada in the final, there was a challenge in playing 25 links, each with two singles and a double. , on three courts in seven days.
One connection between the United States and Italy ended at 4am local time.
“We think we did a great event in 2019 but there were definitely things to improve, such as the recording and attendance at the stands,” Davis Cup finalist Director Albert Costa told Reuters.
“With the new format and the new project we have now I believe we can solve all these problems. Eleven days is better for the players because you can’t play five links in seven days. ”
A 10-week bidding process opened on Monday for European cities wishing to join Madrid to host the 2021 Finals.
Turin, the new guest of the ATP finals, would be a logical choice while London is another potential co-host.
The two additional cities would host two group stages and one quarter-final each, with Madrid hosting two group stages, two quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final. last.
“Players we’ve spoken to over the last few days alone have been delighted to be able to add one or two more cities, making it even bigger than the Tennis World Cup. , ”Said Dent.
“We are quietly confident that we will receive a good show of interest. ”
A final decision is expected by March based on the hosting and COVID-19 recommendations received from applicants.
Last year’s event was postponed due to the pandemic.
Costa believes three cities would allow more ‘home’ fans – a traditional side of the Davis Cup.
“Three host countries means a wider audience and more fans will be able to see their players at home and that is something that players and fans alike will enjoy,” said the Spaniard. .
The reduction to 16 countries for the finals from 2022 would also take a cleaner form, Costa said, with four groups of four and the top two advancing to the semi-finals.
Twelve of the 16 countries would come through the certification ties held earlier in the year, with two ITF wildcards and the winners and runners-up from the 2021 event.
Reporting by Martyn Herman, edited by Pritha Sarkar and Christian Radnedge