Due to heavy criticism regarding the lack of public interest in the current program, the ITF announced major changes to the event.
After numerous and strong criticisms, the Davis Cup will change its format from next year’s edition, with the integration of new qualifying rounds before the final of the best eight. During this day, The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced the changes, which will also include the Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC) the final phase of which will go down next year from 12 to eight teams, in the direction of a future assimilation of the two competitions.
In the case of Davis, the group stage, which took place this year in four venues last September, will end with little public interest. So, This stage will be replaced by seven qualifications over two days, during which two singles matches will be played in the first and in the second, two other singles and one doubles.
This way it will be replayed at home or away. The seven winners will join the host in the Final 8 in November. “This change will make it easier for players to schedule immediately after the US Open “, while maintaining the intensity of a competition that all players love,” said ITF President David Haggerty, who added that the new format will also “present world-class tennis in more countries around the world and increase awareness and participation. »
Players were in favor of reclaiming the home-and-home playoffs that gave them the opportunity to play in front of their fans. Actually, In the current edition, Chile faced the United States, Slovakia and Germany in Zhuhai, China, a country that was not present. the duels were therefore played out in front of a small and apathetic crowd.
With these changes, the first round of the Qualifiers, where Chile is, It will take place the week of January 27. If you move on to the second round, you will participate in this new instance in whichThe current champion and the 13 winners of this first phase pass. This stage will take place the week of September 8.
Changes at BJKC
The Billie Jean King Cup will also undergo changes. To reach the Final 8, seven group stages will be organized in April, with three teams per group playing all against all. There will be two singles matches and one doubles match in each match. The seven winning teams will join the host team in the final.
The initiative aims to balance the number of eight finalist teams. But from 2026, the qualifying rounds will also be adopted from this phase in April. “The move to an eight-team final aligns with the format of the Davis Cup Final 8, which proved to be a great success. Haggerty spoke about the new BJKC.
The finals of both competitions will take place this year in Malaga, on partially overlapping dates: from November 13 to 20 the women’s competition and from 19 to 24 the men’s.
Source: Latercera
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