From 2019, the competition will see 18 nations compete in a week-long season ending finale to be crowned Davis Cup champions. The first edition of the new event will be held in Madrid or Lille from 18-24 November, with the inaugural host city to be announced in the coming weeks.
The 25-year agreement represents a total investment of US $3 billion into tennis.
The new format will involve a qualifying round in February, in which 24 teams will take part in home and away matches. The 12 winners will secure a place into the final and will join the four semifinalists of the previous year – who qualify without having to play in February – and two wildcards that will be announced before the draw for the qualifying round.
The Davis Cup Finals will be held in a round robin format from Monday to Thursday, with the countries divided into six groups and each qualifying round consisting of three matches – two singles and one doubles – of best-of-three sets. The first placed teams from each group and the two best runners-up will reach the quarterfinals on Friday, while Saturday and Sunday will host the semifinals and the final. The two worst qualified teams from the round robin stage will be relegated to the Zone Groups for the following year and the rest of the nations that did not qualify for the semifinals will have to participate in February’s qualifying round the following season.
Photos from the Davis Cup website.
