The most radical overhaul in the 118-year history of the Davis Cup could be given the green light on Thursday as the tennis world gathers in Florida to vote on sweeping reforms which have divided the sport.
Delegates at the International Tennis Federation's annual meeting in Orlando will decide whether proposals pushed by federation chief David Haggerty are to be given the go-ahead.
Haggerty's proposals will see the Davis Cup's sprawling existing format, stretched across the calendar year and played in all corners of the globe, condensed into a season-ending event played at a single, neutral venue.
Haggerty told AFP in a recent interview the revamped tournament would enable the ITF and member federations to boost tennis's global development for years to come.
The reforms have the backing of a $3 billion partnership from the Kosmos investment group, founded by Barcelona football star Gerard Pique, which in turn is supported by Japanese billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani.
"The reforms will allow the ITF and the federations to do what no other body does, which is to develop the future generation of players," Haggerty told AFP.
The ITF maintains the new-look Davis Cup would boost the profile of the tournament, which was first held in 1900 when the United States defeated Britain at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, Massachusetts.
Federation chiefs say the revamped competition would effectively create a fifth Grand Slam event, increase prize money and allow the Davis Cup to attract top players by freeing up space on the calendar.
Yet the changes have appalled some of the greatest names ever to play the sport. On Saturday, Australian Davis Cup captains and players including Rod Laver, John Newcombe and Lleyton Hewitt were united in condemning the proposed overhaul.
- 'Death of Davis Cup' -
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Newcombe, a five-time champion as a player, described the overhaul as "a recipe for the death of the Davis Cup as we know it."
"You play one year, and then the next year you don't play. It's just the scheduling of this kind of format so far has been pretty bad."
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