Yesterday’s tweak to 5th sets in Davis Cup might be just the tip of the iceberg. New ITF President David Haggerty tells the New York Times that he favors a “Final Four” format for both Davis Cup and Fed Cup, the sports’ two biggest international team tennis competitions.
Read the Full New York Times Article about Haggerty and Davis Cup Here
“I can’t say it’s something that we’re going to do, but I can certainly say it’s something that’s gotten some favorable feedback and traction from some of the nations,” Haggerty told Christopher Clarey of the Times in an interview that was published Friday.
Haggerty says that bringing all four semifinalists to a neutral site and creating a gala weekend that eventually determines the winner “would make it easier for television, easier for fans to follow the format.”
Haggerty also said that he’d like to bring the Fed Cup final four, the women’s equivalent to Davis Cup, to the same venue, if possible.
In the article, Clarey calls Haggerty a consensus builder by instinct, with a proactive streak. The fourth American to head the ITF, and the first since 1975, Haggerty says Davis and Fed Cup format change could help bring the sport to a larger audience and create more income opportunities for players.
“I want to raise the awareness level and the image of tennis,” he told Clarey. “I think that’s where new Davis Cup and Fed Cup formats give us the ability to really help elevate the sport.”