MADRID: The ITF has confirmed it is considering a series of proposals by event partner Kosmos Tennis to enhance the Davis Cup 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.
Specific to India, its World Group I tie, which was originally scheduled for September 2020, will now take place in the week commencing 13 September against hosts Finland.
Coming back to the Davis Cup finals, 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.
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 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.
DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 WORLD GROUP I AND WORLD GROUP II TIES
The ITF has announced the dates for the 24 rearranged Davis Cup World Group I and World Group II home-and-away ties, which were originally scheduled for September 2020.
The ties, which involve 48 teams, will be played during either the week commencing 1 March or the week commencing 13 September.
Of the 24 ties, four will be played on 5-6 March. Venues have been announced for all four of these ties.
A further 20 ties will be played during the week commencing 13 September, with exact dates and venues for each tie to be confirmed in due course.
The Davis Cup Committee has reversed choice of ground for the World Group II tie between Mexico and Bulgaria. Bulgaria will now host the tie.
The full list of World Group I and World Group II ties in 2021:
Week commencing 1 March:
World Group I
Pakistan (c) v Japan – 5-6 March 2021 – Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, PAK (outdoors, grass)
Ukraine (c) v Israel – 5-6 March 2021 – Marina Tennis Club, Pohreby Village, Kyiv, UKR (indoors, hard)
World Group II
Bulgaria (c) v Mexico – 5-6 March 2021 – Sport Hall Sofia, Sofia, BUL (indoors, hard)
Poland (c) v El Salvador – 5-6 March 2021 – Arena Kalisz, Kalisz, POL (indoors, hard)
Week commencing 13 September:
World Group I
Finland (c) v India
Bolivia (c) v Belgium
Argentina (c) v Belarus
Uruguay (c) v Netherlands
Slovakia (c) v Chile
Norway (c) v Uzbekistan
Lebanon (c) v Brazil
New Zealand (c) v Korea, Rep.
Romania (c) v Portugal
Peru (c) v Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Group II
Zimbabwe (c) v China, P.R.
Switzerland (c) v Estonia
Tunisia (c) v Dominican Republic
Greece (c) v Lithuania
Denmark (c) v Thailand
Slovenia (c) v Paraguay
Turkey (c) v Latvia
Venezuela (c) v South Africa (to be played on neutral ground)
Chinese Taipei (c) v Morocco
Barbados (c) v Indonesia
(c) = choice of ground
