ITF approves Davis Cup and Fed Cup reforms

The ITF Board of Directors has approved a series of reforms for Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas that have been recommended by the Davis Cup and Fed Cup Committees.

The ITF AGM will be asked to approve these changes at its meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in August 2017.

The wide-ranging reform package, which would come into effect in 2018, includes:

All singles matches in Davis Cup will be played as best-of-three tiebreak sets, rather than best-of-five sets. Davis Cup will retain its three-day format, with doubles still played on the Saturday over the best-of-five sets.

The finalists in both Davis Cup and Fed Cup will be guaranteed the choice of hosting their first-round tie in the following year.

Hosting costs for national associations will be reduced.

The dead rubber policy will be amended to reduce the number of dead rubbers.

Bids to host fixed venue finals for Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas have been received and are being assessed. The Board will reconvene later this month.

ITF President David Haggerty said: "Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas are two of the most iconic team competitions in sport, but there is no doubt change is needed to ensure that we maximise their full potential."

"While still needing AGM approval, we are confident that our National Associations will see that to vote for these reforms is to vote for the long-term future of our competitions and our sport."