Unlocking potential: tennis chiefs plan revamp of Davis Cup and Fed Cup finals
Aswitch away from one of the finalists hosting the decider is part of a broader strategy aimed at developing the men’s and women’s international team events
Tennis chiefs plan to adopt the NFL’s Super Bowl model, by selecting fixed venue cities in advance for their showcase Davis and Fed Cup finals.
The switch away from one of the finalists hosting the decider is part of a broader strategy aimed at developing the men’s and women’s international team events.
“This is all part of our mission to make the appeal of tennis broad and wide,” International Tennis Federation President David Haggerty said.
Other options under consideration include a tweak of formats to reduce the length of matches, and expanding the top-tier Fed Cup competition to feature 16 nations.
Haggerty, elected president a year ago, hopes to have the new hosting system in place by 2018.
“Davis Cup is 135 nations,” Haggerty said. “This is a way to unlock potential revenue which will help grassroots tennis.”