DC New Format - Feb "qualifying" etc

[glenys]

Hi Guys

Jan and I have been musing (and eating pizza and drinking wine!) about where we may be in February - we have worked out something and we "think" we may be on the right track, however, possible really best to wait for the draw lol

We were just wondering where travel in Feb may lead us

Anyway this is our calculation

So - the 4 already confirmed into the Sept/November "finals" are France, Spain, Croatia and USA - with 2 wildcards that makes 6

By our reckoning as Switzerland lost to Sweden today, they will get a Wild card - the other will be to Serbia (this is our thoughts could be wrong bear this in mind)

So that leaves the following teams as seeded

Italy
Germany
Kazakhstan
Belgium
Great Britain
Japan
Argentina
Austria
Sweden (as they beat Switzerland)
Canada
Czech Republic
India (they lost to Serbia in whatever last round they played - zonal? play offs?) - as Serbia will get a WC - they take Serbia place



The other 9 teams that are in the Feb round but are not seeded are

Colombia
Uzbekistan
Australia
China (taking India's place as India beat them before facing Serbia)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Portugal (taking the place of Switzerland or Sweden - i forget now lol)
Netherlands
Hungary
Pakistan who take the place China occupied from the Asia Group

This leaves 3 other teams, which we THINK will come from either Chile, Brazil, Israel, Slovenia & Russia (from Americas and Europe groups)

We think we are close to this now but like we say we could be well out LOL

Has anyone worked it all out yet

What we don't yet know is how the home/away works, we'd like to think that the seeded teams will be the "home" teams - meaning we are home

This is all speculation and guess work (other than we know who the seeded teams are and that some of the non seeds are the losing teams this weekend.

Over to you guys :D

[WimbledonWestie]

Home and away is decided as before -turn about - so I really hope we don't get Uzbekistan again . Ties are now Friday, Saturday so only day I can do is Saturday. Very restrictive.

[angiebabez]

Home and away is decided as before -turn about - so I really hope we don't get Uzbekistan again . Ties are now Friday, Saturday so only day I can do is Saturday. Very restrictive.

So 2 singles matches on Friday and an other 2 on Saturday plus doubles??

[WimbledonWestie]

Yeah, Saturday starts with doubles so it's always a love match. Pretty sure the doubles is the only best of 5 set match .singles I think are now best if 3. ( so no crazy Friday dash either)

[jagmad]

Prediction No.1 If we paid on average £50 per day a tkt? £150 for the 3 days)
Now we'll pay closer to £75 per day!
Having said that we paid much more when Andy was deffo playing!
So I mean like for like.

I also believe that the slow changes to 3 set matches, over all including slams will pave the way for tennis becoming a younger mans game.

[Hawkeye]

I've updated the OP to account for the remaining result, as well as correcting some of the spelling! :pirate:

I await JimmyG's analysis for the home or away scenarios!

[roytennisfan]

The bad news is there aren't many home tie options though there are a few which would be lots and aways are a mixture of short or many long journeys

[jagmad]

Hi Guys

Jan and I have been musing (and eating pizza and drinking wine!) about where we may be in February - we have worked out something and we "think" we may be on the right track, however, possible really best to wait for the draw lol

We were just wondering where travel in Feb may lead us

Anyway this is our calculation

So - the 4 already confirmed into the Sept/November "finals" are France, Spain, Croatia and USA - with 2 wildcards that makes 6

By our reckoning as Switzerland lost to Sweden today, they will get a Wild card - the other will be to Serbia (this is our thoughts could be wrong bear this in mind)

So that leaves the following teams as seeded

Italy
Germany
Kazakhstan
Belgium
Great Britain
Japan
Argentina
Austria
Sweden (as they beat Switzerland)
Canada
Czech Republic
India (they lost to Serbia in whatever last round they played - zonal? play offs?) - as Serbia will get a WC - they take Serbia place



The other 9 teams that are in the Feb round but are not seeded are

Colombia
Uzbekistan
Australia
China (taking India's place as India beat them before facing Serbia)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Portugal (taking the place of Switzerland or Sweden - i forget now lol)
Netherlands
Hungary
Pakistan who take the place China occupied from the Asia Group

This leaves 3 other teams, which we THINK will come from either Chile, Brazil, Israel, Slovenia & Russia (from Americas and Europe groups)

We think we are close to this now but like we say we could be well out LOL

Has anyone worked it all out yet

What we don't yet know is how the home/away works, we'd like to think that the seeded teams will be the "home" teams - meaning we are home

This is all speculation and guess work (other than we know who the seeded teams are and that some of the non seeds are the losing teams this weekend.

Over to you guys :D

Haven't got a scooby doo you lost me at: Bosnia Herzegovina.
Hope someone works it out.

All I know is Lynne was reliably informed that we will have a home tie in Feb next year.

And it will be in London or Glasgow.
Don't ask me.
:confused::confused:

If that comes off I have my beliefs why, but I'll keep them quiet for now.

[WimbledonWestie]

Interesting....watching this space!

[jaysee]

Maybe they'll introduce a rule that teams that played a "play-off " this weekend can't play each other again in Feb?!

[KnightOwl]

Does anyone know what Uzbekistan is like in February? :big grin:

[lovetennis]

Foolishly I had assumed a 2 day format would mean Saturday and Sunday, so was surprised to see that it will be Friday and Saturday. Quite strange from the spectator's point of view (but then again, the ITF haven't been thinking about spectators have they :doh:), maybe it's for the players' benefit with most tournament starting on a Monday, it would allow them the Sunday to travel to their next tournament??

[JAMES4578]

Of course no guarantee of Home tie as others have indicated, follows same format for Home Advantage depending on previous host or lot if no record. All matches including doubles will be the best of 3 sets in both qualifiers and finals. https://www.daviscup.com/en/news/290055.aspx

[WimbledonWestie]

maybe it's for the players' benefit with most tournament starting on a Monday, it would allow them the Sunday to travel to their next tournament??

I'd say it's part of their plan to try ensure top players play even if they then have events next week. Tough on teams who rely on a player playing singles and doubles.

[Steven]

Leon on Twitter:

"Going to be very interesting to see how @DavisCup decide the wild cards for 2019 finals. Quite a few nations including ourselves merit consideration. Hopefully a very transparent and fair process. Let’s see."

I cracked up at the penultimate sentence. Either he has either been celebrating a bit too much this evening or it's impressively deniable sarcasm ;-)

[jagmad]

Maybe they'll introduce a rule that teams that played a "play-off " this weekend can't play each other again in Feb?!

I wouldn't have thought they have even thought about that.
Unless there's some way it would bring in more $.
Then it might make the top 10

[suttontennis]

I dare say there are ways countries can guarantee themselves a wild card. In the same way as countries can gain support for Olympic bids..

[glenys]

The wild cards for the first "finals" will be for Switzerland and Serbia = they'll want Fed & Djoko in the finals week (it won't guarantee their attendance mind)

[suttontennis]

Or they will want a fair spread of continents, so South + Central America, Asia, maybe even an African team. Not forgetting the lucrative Middle East bloc.

[glenys]

Or they will want a fair spread of continents, so South + Central America, Asia, maybe even an African team. Not forgetting the lucrative Middle East bloc.

The WC's HAVE to go to a team ranked in the top 50 (Davis Cup Nations) or with at least one player ranked in the top 10 - that is the "rule" from the ITF/Kosmos <sp?> I believe so that will discount a lot of lower teams.

[Rosalind]

My thoughts too that the wildcards will be for teams that have a top player such as Serbia, Switzerland with the finals held in Spain haha.

[glenys]

According to Russell Fuller

"The investment group Kosmos has promised to pour $3bn into the Davis Cup and grassroots tennis over the next 25 years. To recoup that vast outlay, they will have to strike some lucrative television deals. And so they will want to do everything in their power to ensure the star players and the countries with the largest TV markets are involved."

[lovetennis]

The wild cards for the first "finals" will be for Switzerland and Serbia = they'll want Fed & Djoko in the finals week (it won't guarantee their attendance mind)

Fed will look such a hypocrite if he takes part after he gave the new format a bit of a trashing the other week, telling Pique to stick to football (amen to that). He's also highly unlikely to be induced by appearance fees - let's face it he's not short of a few Swiss francs is he. Ergo I will be amazed if he plays it. Stan might be tempted but he's not as big a draw

I think Djokovic will take part if his body is up to it after the ATP Finals, he did express support so the Serbian WC is probably a dead cert

[lovetennis]

Still trying to get my head around the week long event in Nov. Do tell me if I've got any of the following wrong....

The week long event will consist of QFs, SFs and the Final, all with a 3 match format (2 singles + a doubles, best of 3 sets) . Each tie played over a single day, so presumably as the quarter-finalists will be decided after the Feb 1st round that means they can do the QF draw very soon after the 1st round and schedule the QF ties. So people would know which day their team will play their QF and could buy tickets accordingly. But after that if gets tricky because you don't know which teams will advance to the SFs and the Final . I suppose they may stipulate that the SF from the top half of the draw will play on a certain day, and the bottom half the next so people will potentially know which day their SF would be - if they win their QF. That would mean 4 nation's fans buying tickets for a SF in the hope their team will make it through - and then an arena with lot of spectators whose teams lost in the QF afterall. The Final will almost certainly be attended by a largely neutral crowd (unless the Spanish get to the Final)
A bit of a dog's dinner if I've understood it correctly

[glenys]

Still trying to get my head around the week long event in Nov. Do tell me if I've got any of the following wrong....

The week long event will consist of QFs, SFs and the Final, all with a 3 match format (2 singles + a doubles, best of 3 sets) . Each tie played over a single day, so presumably as the quarter-finalists will be decided after the Feb 1st round that means they can do the QF draw very soon after the 1st round and schedule the QF ties. So people would know which day their team will play their QF and could buy tickets accordingly. But after that if gets tricky because you don't know which teams will advance to the SFs and the Final . I suppose they may stipulate that the SF from the top half of the draw will play on a certain day, and the bottom half the next so people will potentially know which day their SF would be - if they win their QF. That would mean 4 nation's fans buying tickets for a SF in the hope their team will make it through - and then an arena with lot of spectators whose teams lost in the QF afterall. The Final will almost certainly be attended by a largely neutral crowd (unless the Spanish get to the Final)
A bit of a dog's dinner if I've understood it correctly
Hi

According to the DC website it goes as follows

There are 24 teams that will play qualifying in February, to give them 12 winners who then join the 6 (4 from previous years SF and the 2 WC's) in a week long event (now scheduled to be in September and NOT November)
These 18 teams then take part in the week long event. Starting with a Round Robin there will be 6 groups of 3 teams each. The group winners + the 2 best second place teams (unsure how they calculate this yet) then go forward to the QF's in the same week. The SF and F will follow. The SF will then automatically qualify for the following years Round Robin week long event without having to do qualifying in February

If you lose in the RR or before the QF's (i need to check on this) it gets slightly more complicated and i'll come back to this later when I've got my head round it again.

[Hawkeye]

According to Russell Fuller

"The investment group Kosmos has promised to pour $3bn into the Davis Cup and grassroots tennis over the next 25 years. To recoup that vast outlay, they will have to strike some lucrative television deals. And so they will want to do everything in their power to ensure the star players and the countries with the largest TV markets are involved."And, of course, no mention of the paying public.

[lovetennis]

Thanks to Glenys- this us the clearest explanation I have seen. Had forgotten about the Round Robin aspect - makes it even harder to guarantee seeing your team.
Is the move to Sept definite? I read an article a few weeks ago where Pique said he was "looking into it"

[exislander]

I think it is still under discussion as to the actual date and the actual venue - it is to be either September or November and either Madrid or Lille which is really helpful to anyone requiring long term planning!

[lovetennis]

I won't be going either way but curious to see if a September date encourages more player support for the format.

If they do change it to September I wouldn't have a decision to make anyway probably. If it is in the second half of Sept my job absolutely would not allow me time off. Not that I want to give Pique my money anyway

[Steven]

As far as I can tell, possible GB opponents in February are:

HOME v SUI

BY LOT v BRA (played us in 1969 but that was a year before the cut-off), COL, BLR*, CHN* or DOM*

AWAY v AUS, BIH^, CHI, HUN, IND, ISR^, NED, RUS, UZB or POR*

* these are only possible opponents if nations from their zones get a wild card, I think (I've assumed that zones other than Europe would get at most one wild card)
^ could be usurped by the winners of the Group I relegation ties in October, even though the ITF originally stated that the places would be based on the DC rankings as of 17 September!

Since the ITF do seem to be making it up as they go along, I can't guarantee that the above list is 100% correct but it looks like the only team we would be guaranteed a home tie against is the team that seems most likely to be offered one of the wild cards and most of the other possible opponents would definitely be away. Presumably Leon already knew it was likely to be this bad and that's why he's 'campaigning' for a wild card.

It's effectively payback for the run of 7 home ties we had in 2010-13 and the 3 home ties in 2015 (not that we'd have traded any of those for a home tie next Feb though!)

[JerryD]

Fed will look such a hypocrite if he takes part after he gave the new format a bit of a trashing the other week, telling Pique to stick to football (amen to that). He's also highly unlikely to be induced by appearance fees - let's face it he's not short of a few Swiss francs is he. Ergo I will be amazed if he plays it. Stan might be tempted but he's not as big a draw

I think Djokovic will take part if his body is up to it after the ATP Finals, he did express support so the Serbian WC is probably a dead cert

When Kev asked Stan about his views on the changes, during the Q&A at the us open event the week before. Stan talked about it as if he wasn’t playing D.C. anymore anyway. He said that he was coming towards the end of his career and though he’d enjoyed D.C. it was for the younger players and new generation to give their thoughts as they’d be playing it. So I don’t see him playing either to be honest. Leaving the Swiss team without a big player.

Given the funding i think the wildcards could go to teams outside Europe and the America’s. My first thoughts were likely candidates would include a couple of the following ... Chinese Taipei, Korea, Thailand, China PR, Japan, India, South Africa and Israel. In those nations there is room to “spread the game” or squeeze more money from the game. Getting people into it. And of course Russia is a potential too.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they expected nations such as ours to get ourselves to the finals and then gave the wildcards to those who would bring money buy would perhaps have a tougher struggle to make it there on their own.

[lovetennis]

When Kev asked Stan about his views on the changes, during the Q&A at the us open event the week before. Stan talked about it as if he wasn’t playing D.C. anymore anyway. He said that he was coming towards the end of his career and though he’d enjoyed D.C. it was for the younger players and new generation to give their thoughts as they’d be playing it. So I don’t see him playing either to be honest. Leaving the Swiss team without a big player.

Given the funding i think the wildcards could go to teams outside Europe and the America’s. My first thoughts were likely candidates would include a couple of the following ... Chinese Taipei, Korea, Thailand, China PR, Japan, India, South Africa and Israel. In those nations there is room to “spread the game” or squeeze more money from the game. Getting people into it. And of course Russia is a potential too.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they expected nations such as ours to get ourselves to the finals and then gave the wildcards to those who would bring money buy would perhaps have a tougher struggle to make it there on their own.

I do hope you're right Jerry. Wild cards should be used exactly as you describe but me being an old cynic I think they will use them to try and garner participation from some top players. The new format is designed to sell global TV rights for top dollar and they need some big names to do that. I wonder if one of the reasons the WCs are being announced so early is so they can start hawking the TV rights to the highest bidder. If they do give the Swiss a WC they are taking a huge gamble given Stan's remarks and Fed giving Pique a trashing. Djokovic is maybe a stronger bet given he's made positive noises about the format. The whole thing is about money, money, money

[roytennisfan]

10 of 12 options confirmed
8 losers plus Chile and Brasil
2 others TBC in October, so we could draw an unknown team on the 26th then Russia? China?

So as Steven put, only definite home option could disappear and only definite nearby options are Netherlands and Hungary

[suttontennis]

Daily Mail reporting venues for a possible qualifying round as being Brighton and Manchester.

[themass15]

Brighton would be a doddle for me but Manchester is fine. Can be very windy on Brighton seafront in the Winter!

[lovetennis]

Daily Mail reporting venues for a possible qualifying round as being Brighton and Manchester.

Presumably would be Manchester Central (formerly GMEX) which looks available. Manchester Arena has concerts on and would probably be too vast a venue - I dislike it for it's lack of atmosphere. If they used Manchester Central it would be similar to Ghent, a temporary stadium built inside the large hall. Never been to Brighton so can't comment on there.

[jagmad]

Lynne and I have just spent 1hr trying to decipher the format on the DC site.
Decided we have now fried our brains enough.
We give up!!!!!!!!

[JerryD]

https://www.daviscup.com/en/news/292334.aspx

A little more detail on the draw and seeds etc

[angiebabez]

Brighton would be a doddle for me but Manchester is fine. Can be very windy on Brighton seafront in the Winter!

I don't think it will be an option to play it on Brighton seafront :laugh:

[Rosalind]

:barmy::barmy:
https://www.daviscup.com/en/news/292334.aspx

A little more detail on the draw and seeds etc

It's so confusing.

[suttontennis]

I don't think it will be an option to play it on Brighton seafront :laugh:

They did it in Naples, why not cold, wet, windy Brighton. Leon would freeze to death sat courtside!

[RosieBear]

Hmm, think they probably mean indoors at The Brighton Centre. Brighton is lovely and a (cheap) doddle for me, but in all fairness it should be more central. I find it so bad that Andy, a once in *3 gens* player, has never played in one of the 3 countries that make up GB so I'd like to see it in Cardiff. But got to wonder why other places are suddenly getting a look in - maybe the low turn out in Glasgow last weekend despite it being not even 3 years since GB lifted the trophy and Andy not even retired yet - a glimpse of stupid LTA short-termism.

[angiebabez]

They did it in Naples, why not cold, wet, windy Brighton. Leon would freeze to death sat courtside!

I'm happy to keep him warm

[lovetennis]

More wild card rumour & speculation circulating on Twitter - one tennis blogger claims there will be a behind closed doors bidding auction for wild cards. Can't post the link on my phone though. Sadly it wouldn't surprise me if it's true

[RosieBear]

More wild card rumour & speculation circulating on Twitter - one tennis blogger claims there will be a behind closed doors bidding auction for wild cards. Can't post the link on my phone though. Sadly it wouldn't surprise me if it's true

Given that the LTA is run by someone who openly admits that when he first took the job didn't know who Roger Federer was when he met him, or what the Davis Cup was (nope, I kid you not) then I'd say anything is possible.

[exislander]

Given that the LTA is run by someone who openly admits that when he first took the job didn't know who Roger Federer was when he met him, or what the Davis Cup was (nope, I kid you not) then I'd say anything is possible.

I think you do not mean the LTA here?

[RosieBear]

I think you do not mean the LTA here?

I do mean the LTA - I'm referring to Mr Downey.

Edit: I know Scott Lloyd took over in Jan, so should have said 'was run by'

[exislander]

I do mean the LTA - I'm referring to Mr Downey.

Edit: I know Scott Lloyd took over in Jan, so should have said 'was run by'

Yes, I thought Scott Lloyd must have known about DC from father and uncle!

[WimbledonWestie]

But LTA don't get to decide wildcards.:confused:

[RosieBear]

I was just making the point that when it comes to tennis officialdom anything is possible.

[RosieBear]

Ooops, I mis-remembered. It was when he took the equivalent job, as head of Tennis Canada, that Mr Downey didn't know what DC was or who Fed was (despite being world no 1). As I say, here, Canada, anywhere - anything is possible in tennis governance :https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/29/michael-downey-andy-murray-lta-investment-british-tennis.

Anyway, I digress, back on topic :thumbup:

[Caro]

Not looking good for an accessible tie in February then. I completely and utterly disagree with this new format ... but I’m addicted to DC and I want to carry on supporting the team, led so magnificently by Leon. If it’s not doable, we should maybe think about a meet up to watch together. I would definitely be up for that if we could find somewhere.

[WimbledonWestie]

I was just making the point that when it comes to tennis officialdom anything is possible.

Very true! ( and sadly in many walks of life)

[JerryD]

I’m with you Caro. Though I know a lot of people are planning to boycott, even if the DC is no longer the same as it was, or team will still be out and I’d love to keep supporting them in person. Crossing my fingers for a doable tie though it seems unlikely. Maybe Switzerland won’t get the WIldcard and we can play them at home lol. Netherlands, Portugal, Hungary and Slovakia are doable. But probably not the others.

[RosieBear]

I'm going to wait and see how I feel in the future. I'm torn at the moment - I don't want to cut my nose off to spite my face and miss out just to make a point. But I'm so unbelievably angry and disgusted about what's happened, and how it's happened, I feel like I wouldn't enjoy it if I went & I prefer to keep myself to myself when feeling fed up :sad::sad: (I feel bad enough posting negatively/grouchily on here like a misog, but after 5 weeks hiding away I had to come back and do some moderating!).

[Stell]

I've had a look on the internet and Uzbekistan, during the winter, can be very cold.

[Stell]

How many seeded countries will be wanting to play Australia in Australia? I know that will include us, so we can all escape our cold winter for a hot Aussie summer.

[WimbledonWestie]

It would probably suit a lot of countries to play in Australia as it's just after the Oz open.

[glenys]

I've had a look on the internet and Uzbekistan, during the winter, can be very cold.
Flipping expensive to get to as well! Nothing direct

[jaysee]

Flipping expensive to get to as well! Nothing direct

You'd have to get James to expand from organising minibuses to chartering a private jet!!

Sadly I think my only chance of getting to a Feb tie is if it is at home (and in the southern half of the country!)

[jagmad]

I'm going to wait and see how I feel in the future. I'm torn at the moment - I don't want to cut my nose off to spite my face and miss out just to make a point. But I'm so unbelievably angry and disgusted about what's happened, and how it's happened, I feel like I wouldn't enjoy it if I went & I prefer to keep myself to myself when feeling fed up :sad::sad: (I feel bad enough posting negatively/grouchily on here like a misog, but after 5 weeks hiding away I had to come back and do some moderating!).

+1
I some times even think watching it on TV would hurt. Maybe my feelings will change in time, as there's not supporting it and as as you said,
"cutting one's nose off"

Let's wait and see!
I'm sure we'll make the best of it and do the right thing in the end.

[jagmad]

You'd have to get James to expand from organising minibuses to chartering a private jet!!

Sadly I think my only chance of getting to a Feb tie is if it is at home (and in the southern half of the country!)

Maybe we could get the ITF to pay for it? So as it injects some real atmosphere.

[Jan62]

If we get a home tie it apparently will definitely NOT be in Glasgow. According to Stu Fraser on Twitter a provisional booking at a different venue has already been booked (although he didn't say where). Stu is usually fairly reliable, but it sounds incredibly organised by the LTA and I am therefore suspicious ......

[JAMES4578]

You'd have to get James to expand from organising minibuses to chartering a private jet!!

Sadly I think my only chance of getting to a Feb tie is if it is at home (and in the southern half of the country!)

Wonder how many would be interested in an Uzbekistan away tie, anyway doubt I'd be doing much organising for that one! If we are fortunate enough with another home tie seems it may will be a change from the joys of the Glasgow Emirates.

[exislander]

No February tie for GB!! Along with Argentina we have a wildcard!

[Hawkeye]

As posted on the other thread...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/45651624

[exislander]

The draw was made at 3pm - not too much waffling beforehand. Two countries still to be decided after October ties but they did a by lot draw in case the countries involved had never met before. I think they still have not said where the 2019 finals will be held - just Madrid or Lille - or has anyone heard definitely?

[Caro]

The draw was made at 3pm - not too much waffling beforehand. Two countries still to be decided after October ties but they did a by lot draw in case the countries involved had never met before. I think they still have not said where the 2019 finals will be held - just Madrid or Lille - or has anyone heard definitely?

What’s the October tie?? I thought it was just Feb and then November

[Linda]

I assume they mean the two countries to be promoted from the group below?

[exislander]

Yes, this from the Davis Cup website:

The two remaining nations from Europe/Africa will be confirmed after the 2018 Europe/Africa Zone Group I relegation play-offs in October and based on the Davis Cup Nations Ranking of Monday 29 October. These nations will be drawn into the Qualifier Draw following the completion of the 2018 competition, with the choice of ground for their respective ties confirmed at this time.

[WimbledonWestie]

Such mixed emotions- firmly against the wild card idea yet pleased and flattered we were chosen for one, but still disappointed no chance of seeing our team play til end of next year- on tv.

[jagmad]

Knight owl posted on the old closed thread that we might have a get together anyway or go to another nearby tie ?
Hmmm just a thought but how many other none countries supporters do we think feel the same as us?
Could we start a REAL DC fan club say just Europe to start using DC ties for a Tennis holiday still turning up in our GB gear?
That might start a stir, fans/press asking questions what you lot doing here, when we tell them it may just start a revolution.
Just maybe. If we do a proper job and sing and cheer loud with the other fans who knows where it could go?????

[patlowe]

Madrid to host DC finals in both 2019 & 2020.

[Stell]

I was going to say La Caja Magica in Madrid has been chosen to host the DC finals for next year and 2020, but patlowe beat me to it.

[Silverdee]

Thanks for this, do we have a date yet?

[RosieBear]

Knock me down with a feather, it's Madrid. Maybe Shakira can headline the opening ceremony, just so we can be sure the stitch-up is complete :thumbup:

[Stell]

According to their website, "the date will be announced in due course".

[JerryD]

I was so sure this was where it would be I forgot that they hadn’t officially said. When I read it I thought ... yeah... we know lol. Maybe it will be France in 2021 or maybe they were promised hosting rights to get their vote but but they were let down. One thing I don’t remember, has there been any announcement as to surface? I assumed it would be hard like the events before it but not heard

[Rosalind]

me as well Jerry - we were all talking about it in Glasgow! I think many of the fans from other countries feel like us judging from comments on social media. I'm not going to get stressed about it. I'm even thinking of going to the Laver cup next year (only thinking, nothing definite). Certainly it's no replacement but I did really enjoy watching it and if one of our players is involved, it is extra fun.

[Silverdee]

I was so sure this was where it would be I forgot that they hadn’t officially said. When I read it I thought ... yeah... we know lol. Maybe it will be France in 2021 or maybe they were promised hosting rights to get their vote but but they were let down. One thing I don’t remember, has there been any announcement as to surface? I assumed it would be hard like the events before it but not heard

I’ve just looked at the venue and it’s clay.

[Silverdee]

me as well Jerry - we were all talking about it in Glasgow! I think many of the fans from other countries feel like us judging from comments on social media. I'm not going to get stressed about it. I'm even thinking of going to the Laver cup next year (only thinking, nothing definite). Certainly it's no replacement but I did really enjoy watching it and if one of our players is involved, it is extra fun.

We’ve already booked our hotel right by the venue for Laver cup which could be handy for late nights, time gaps etc

[exislander]

I’ve just looked at the venue and it’s clay.

On the Kosmos website they say 2019 and 2020 will be hard court in Europe. After 2020 it will go to America or Asia.

[Linda]

They hold all sorts of events there so they must have removable flooring that they put down on top of the clay.

[Stell]

I was reading an article from Sky Sports on how Roger Federer will be playing at the 2020 Olympics, though he hasn't played in the DC since 2015. In the article, it was claimed that David Haggerty, President of the ITF, confirmed on Tuesday that the next year's DC finals would be played in November and yet there is nothing about the confirmation on their website. I find it very strange.

[JerryD]

Perhaps he will play the February play off. Or maybe just hold out til next year and do it then. He is still cashing that singles gold

[lovetennis]

Well done to the French players and fans for making plain their disgust at the new format at the last real DC final

https://tennis.life/2018/11/25/giudicelli-haggerty-davis-cup-hotseat/

[cazza99]

BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/46329148) - ATP and Davis Cup joint event could happen - David Haggerty