Australia To Host Tennis World Cup In January 2020
Australia To Host Tennis World Cup In January 2020: The World Team Cup used to be played in Dusseldorf from 1978 to 2012 before being scrapped. “We’re delighted to have reached this outcome which will change the landscape of the ATP World Tour,” Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman said.
“This event will enable us to kick off our season with a major team event, with minimal impact on existing player schedules,” he added.
The tournament will feature 24 teams and offer US $15 million in player prize money in 2020, as well as ATP Rankings points.
The ITF responded to the announcement by saying it was an “opportunity missed”.
“Today’s news that the ATP board has decided to proceed with the World Team Cup does not change the commitment of the ITF to proceed with a new Davis Cup event in 2019,” the ITF said. “We do feel that this was an opportunity missed by the ATP to work together with the ITF in a beneficial and positive way for the whole of tennis.
“Our plan is transformative. It includes format changes to Davis Cup that were requested by the ATP Player Council in 2016 and it will create a world class finale to the tennis season.”
The World Team Cup will take place in partnership with Tennis Australia and will feature 24 teams, offering £11.35m in prize money. Ranking points will also be available.
The tournament had previously taken place in Dusseldorf from 1978 to 2012.
Federations will vote at the ITF AGM in August on proposals to transform the Davis Cup, culminating in an 18-nation World Cup-style tournament at the end of the season in November.
The ATP and ITF had been in discussions to try to resolve the issue. “Hopefully tennis works together and we come up with a solution,” Chris Kermode said in May.
Well, tennis tried to work together but ultimately the ATP Board has voted in favour of staging its own event. This leaves us the ludicrous prospect of having an ITF World Cup and an ATP World Cup within the space of six weeks.
The ITF’s next task is to secure a two-thirds majority vote in favour of a reformed Davis Cup at next month’s AGM. It must then persuade a substantial number of the world’s top 100 to play in an event which is likely to be very lucrative, but will reduce the off season to a mere five weeks.
The ATP’s challenge, meanwhile, will be to turn a revamped World Team Cup into an event worthy of the name, and not just an opportunity for a glamorous tune up before the Australian Open.
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