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**Obgrfbke** · 01-13-2010, 04:51 PM

ITF Statement – in response to reports regarding World Cup tennis proposal

Davis Cup has been a leading competition for over 110 years. Over its history, Davis Cup has seen many changes in the structure of tennis, some very significant like the move to professionalism in 1968 and the founding of the professional tours in the 1970s. While Davis Cup has evolved and modernised over the years, it has not lost its intrinsic values based around the home and away format that attracts great support from fans, sponsors, television and the players themselves who enjoy playing in front of their home country fans. At the same time, Davis Cup remains true to the ITF’s mission to grow tennis around the world by providing a mechanism for our nations to develop players, including many of the today’s top players, in their individual countries.

This proposal, also shown to the ITF, has some interesting elements and, of course, timely branding, given the current worldwide fascination with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It also has many challenges that must be faced if it is to succeed. Everyone is in agreement that a nation vs nation format is very attractive, something Davis Cup has recognized for over a century, and only time will tell if a new competition can earn a regular place in the tennis calendar. It should also be noted that, last year, following a request by the top players for an amended schedule, the ITF signed a five-year agreement with the ATP World Tour guaranteeing dates and ranking points.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas continues to deliver a top quality product for our sponsors and our nations and offers the rare opportunity for players to compete for their countries and their national federations as part of a team in what is usually an individual sport.

01-13-2010, 04:51 PM	#1
Obgrfbke Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 457 Senior Member	ITF Statement – in response to reports regarding World Cup tennis proposal Davis Cup has been a leading competition for over 110 years. Over its history, Davis Cup has seen many changes in the structure of tennis, some very significant like the move to professionalism in 1968 and the founding of the professional tours in the 1970s. While Davis Cup has evolved and modernised over the years, it has not lost its intrinsic values based around the home and away format that attracts great support from fans, sponsors, television and the players themselves who enjoy playing in front of their home country fans. At the same time, Davis Cup remains true to the ITF’s mission to grow tennis around the world by providing a mechanism for our nations to develop players, including many of the today’s top players, in their individual countries. This proposal, also shown to the ITF, has some interesting elements and, of course, timely branding, given the current worldwide fascination with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It also has many challenges that must be faced if it is to succeed. Everyone is in agreement that a nation vs nation format is very attractive, something Davis Cup has recognized for over a century, and only time will tell if a new competition can earn a regular place in the tennis calendar. It should also be noted that, last year, following a request by the top players for an amended schedule, the ITF signed a five-year agreement with the ATP World Tour guaranteeing dates and ranking points. Davis Cup by BNP Paribas continues to deliver a top quality product for our sponsors and our nations and offers the rare opportunity for players to compete for their countries and their national federations as part of a team in what is usually an individual sport.
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