New-look schedule will see Finals take place over 11 days Proposal to expand number of host countries from one to three Number of Finals teams transition from 18 to 16 from 2022The ITF has today confirmed it is considering a series of proposals by event partner, Kosmos Tennis, to enhance the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals following a thorough review of the inaugural event in 2019. Under the proposals, the ITF Board has already approved the Finals becoming an 11-day event with the 2021 edition set to take place from 25 November to 5 December.
The ITF Board also approved a transition from 18 to 16 teams from 2022 and will now enter a period of consultation over the introduction of a multi-city format for the 2021 edition onwards.
The proposals are aimed at improving the schedule for players, enhancing the experience for fans and bringing the competition to a wider audience. The multi-city format would see two European cities join Madrid as hosts in 2021. Under this approach, the two new cities would each host two group stages and one quarter-final, with Madrid hosting two group stages and two quarter-finals, as well as both the semi-finals and the final.
Davis Cup Finals Tournament Director Albert Costa said: "We recognise that the most successful tournaments adapt and evolve over time, 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 the experience for players and fans. With large stadiums providing show courts for all ties, the introduction of a multi-city event will bring the competition to the widest possible audience, while we will also be able to 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."
ITF Senior Executive Director, Professional Tennis, Kris Dent 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, despite its success, it was clear that the 2019 Finals would have benefited from some revisions to the playing and hosting format. After the disappointment of having to cancel the 2020 edition, we are now focused on delivering the best possible event in 2021."
Kosmos Tennis have launched an open bidding process to identify a shortlist of European cities to potentially join Madrid in hosting the 2021 Davis Cup Finals. A final decision on 2021’s format will be taken by March based on the hosting and Covid-19 contingency proposals received from bidders.
The 18 teams taking part in the second edition of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals 2021 have already been drawn into six groups of three teams. The draw event took place in March 2020. The winner of each group and the two best runners-up (based on the number of matches, sets and games won) will advance to the quarter-finals.
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
