The Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup are set to undergo significant format changes in the coming year, as announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). These adjustments aim to bring the two prestigious team events in tennis closer in structure and enhance the overall competition experience for both players and fans.
Beginning in 2025, the Billie Jean King Cup Finals will reduce its participating teams from 12 to eight, mirroring the current format of the Davis Cup Finals. According to the ITF, this move is part of a broader strategy to unify the formats of the two tournaments. The new structure will see seven groups of three teams each competing in qualifiers, with the group winners advancing to the Finals alongside the host nation.
In parallel, the Davis Cup will see its group stage in September shift from a six-day competition to a series of seven home-or-away ties played over two days. The victorious teams will then proceed to the Finals, which will take place in November, joining the host nation. The Billie Jean King Cup will also adopt a home-or-away format for its qualifiers starting in 2026, further aligning the two events.
ITF President David Haggerty highlighted the success of the Davis Cup’s Final 8 format, stating, “In Billie Jean King Cup, the move to an eight-team Finals aligns with the Davis Cup Final 8 format which has proven to be such a success.” He added that reducing the Davis Cup’s September stage to two-day ties will alleviate the burden on players, especially coming right after the US Open, while preserving the high level of competition that makes the event so popular. Ilana Kloss, chair of Billie Jean King Cup Ltd., echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the positive impact the changes will have on player well-being and fan engagement.
Bidding for the 2025 host nations is currently underway, while this year’s Finals for both competitions will be held in Malaga, Spain. The ITF’s adjustments reflect its ongoing commitment to refining tennis’s global team competitions, ensuring their continued growth and appeal. (source: ESPN)