ATP Confirms New World Team Cup Format

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has officially approved plans for a new competition, the World Team Cup, which will start at the beginning of the 2020 tennis season. 

ATP explained that the 24-team tournament would take place in the first week of January in partnership with Tennis Australia and offer $15m in player prize money as well as ATP ranking points, with further details to be revealed at a later date.

The confirmation to bring back the competition follows the announcement from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) earlier this year regarding plans to revamp the Davis Cup, which could see two new rival team competitions take place from 2020.

Commenting on the new tournament, ATP president and executive chairman Chris Kermode said: “This event will enable us to kick off our season with a major team event, with minimal impact on existing player schedules at the start of the year.

“We believe this outcome will deliver long-term sustainability not only financially but also from a player health perspective, which is critical. This event has huge potential and we now look forward to working together with Tennis Australia in bringing our vision to fruition.”

In May, Kermode said that staging both tournaments within six weeks of each other would be “insane,” however as things stand that could be a genuine possibility.

In a statement, the ITF responded, adding: “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. 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.”

ITF members will vote on whether to press ahead with the plans to transform the Davis Cup at the ITF AGM in August.

The World Team Cup was first played in 1978 but failed to progress following a lack of sponsor.