LONDON (REUTERS) – The Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) expects to announce the host cities for subsequent yr’s Davis Cup Finals earlier than the top of this yr’s occasion which begins on Thursday (Nov 24).
This yr’s 18-nation competitors is being staged throughout three cities – Madrid, Turin and Innsbruck.
The lads’s staff competitors, which started in 1900, has undergone varied modifications to the format, the latest being in 2019 when the outdated ‘dwelling and away’ ties have been largely scrapped and changed by a World Cup-style finals held in Madrid.
Final yr’s version was not held due to the pandemic.
A report revealed within the Day by day Telegraph on Thursday mentioned the ITF, along with co-owners Kosmos, had opted to take the competitors to the United Arab Emirates for 5 years.
The ITF issued a response to the hypothesis afterward Thursday.
“Hypothesis a few host for Davis Cup Finals within the Center East is nothing new,” an ITF spokesperson mentioned. “The ITF Board is reviewing host cities for 2022 along with Kosmos and count on to decide by the top of the Finals.” The transfer away from the outdated format dwelling and away ties that have been performed over the course of a yr, culminating in a closing staged at a venue of one of many competing groups, attracted widespread criticism from throughout the sport.
Whereas the inaugural Madrid finals in 2019, received by Spain, have been deemed a hit with some high-quality motion, the format was problematic with late finishes to matches and an absence of restoration time for gamers on the finish of an extended season.
There have been additionally paltry crowds at among the matches performed on three courts contained in the Caja Magica – a far cry from the partisan crowds that have been a trademark of Davis Cup ties.
US$3 billion deal
Kosmos, a Spanish funding group based by soccer participant Gerard Pique, agreed a 25-year US$3 billion (S$4.11 billion) take care of the ITF in 2018 to remodel the competitors.
Germany captain Michael Kohlmann mentioned the current format must be given time.
“Two years in the past in Madrid the occasion was one thing particular however the viewers was lacking,” he mentioned on Wednesday in Innsbruck, the place his staff are in a gaggle with Austria and Serbia.
“I feel that this format needs to be given an opportunity, however I do not suppose that the followers will journey all over the world each yr. It isn’t like soccer.” Britain’s captain Leon Smith mentioned the gamers and captains must be concerned within the decision-making course of.
“Everyone needs the Davis Cup to have an necessary half going ahead. Speaking to anyone: the ambiance, the atmosphere is so necessary. I do know that issues have to vary.
Kosmos will attempt to discover what’s greatest, however there’s received to be an open dialogue about the way forward for the competitors.” Austria captain Stefan Koubeck mentioned the Davis Cup would by no means be the identical once more.
“It isn’t what it was once I was nonetheless taking part in. The house matches are sorely missed and you may’t compensate for that,” he mentioned from Innsbruck the place the ties shall be staged with out followers due to a Covid-19 lockdown.
This yr’s Finals concludes on Dec 5 in Madrid.