Group stage of Davis Cup Finals scrapped

Italy were crowned Davis Cup champions for the first time in 47 years in 2023

The group stage of the Davis Cup Finals has been scrapped in favour of a return to home or away ties.

The Finals have undergone numerous changes since the World Group was disbanded at the end of 2018.

The latest alteration will ensure teams play fewer ties on neutral venues, and also reduce the workload on the players.

International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said: "Moving the Davis Cup September stage from six-day group stage events to two-day home or away ties will ease players’ schedules immediately following the US Open, while maintaining the intensity of the competition that they all love."

Instead of four groups of four playing out next September, there will be seven home or away ties, with the winners, plus the hosts, contesting November’s Finals.

The men’s ATP Tour, which was given a voice in the decision-making process by the ITF two years ago, will be pleased at the shorter duration.

Many players have also advocated the return of more frequent home and away ties to avoid two teams having to play at a neutral venue.

In September, the United States, Chile, Germany and Slovakia had to travel to China to contest the group stage. The USA had five men in the top 20 at the time and none of them made the trip.

Change is also coming to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals from 2025.

The Finals, which are currently contested by 12 teams, will revert to an eight-team event to mirror the existing Davis Cup format.

To enable the transition, next April’s qualifying ties will be played in a group format, with 21 teams split into seven groups. The seven group winners will join the hosts in the Finals.

A bidding process to host next year’s Finals is under way.

This year - for the first time - the Finals of both competitions will be held at the same venue in Malaga.

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which include Great Britain, start on 13 November, with the Davis Cup Finals getting under way six days later.