MADRID, 5 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Kosmos, organizer of the tournament, advanced this Sunday changes in its format for the 2022 edition, which will have 16 teams in four groups, each in one venue, while the final phase will be played in a single neutral venue, all of them yet to be revealed.
At a press conference at the Madrid Arena, ITF President David Haggerty and Kosmos CEO Enric Rojas appeared to give the first official details of the 2022 Finals. “A selection process will begin in January. interested cities and federations will present their proposals, “said Rojas.
The selection process will last about six weeks and Davis expects to announce its four locations in March. However, the venue for the 2022 Finals could be announced in the coming weeks, when all the rumors point to Abu Dhabi. “Nothing is confirmed,” said the Kosmos representative.
What it is is a new change in the Davis format. The World Tennis centenary underwent a revolution in 2019 to become an event with a single venue, it was played in Madrid, 18 teams and only one week. After a year of absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, Davis returned in 2021 with three locations, Madrid, Innsbruck and Turin, and 11 days.
Now, the ‘Salad Bowl’ will be played between 16 teams, in 12 days and in four venues that will acquire a commitment for 3 or 5 years, although that section was not closed either. On the other hand, the representatives of the ITF and Davis pointed out that the four venues will have the same conditions, altitude and surface.
At the moment there are four countries classified, Great Britain and Serbia with known invitations this Sunday, and the 2021 finalists Croatia and Russia. The other 12 teams that will fight for the title will come out of the qualifying round also drawn this Sunday, which saw a cross against Romania for Spain.