Talks are underway to bring back the World Team Cup men’s event as soon as 2019 that could feature multiple ATP players in several countries just before the Australian Open.
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Per Reuters, a maximum of 24 nations of up to five players each would compete in the event with players earning big money and up to 1000 ATP rankings points if they win all their matches.
All four Grand Slam tournaments along with the ATP and ITF have discussed the event that would be held in the same part of the tennis calendar as the Brisbane International and the Hopman Cup, a mixed team event that is sanctioned by the ITF.
If the World Team Cup event sounds familiar, it’s because it began in 1975 and was held between 1978 and 2012 in Dusseldorf, Germany a week before the French Open. The event suffered from lack of interest because it did not offer any ranking points.
In a statement, the ATP said: ”The ATP World Team Cup is an event that last took place in 2012, having been successfully staged in Duesseldorf, Germany, since 1978.
“In recent years, the ATP has regularly reviewed any potential opportunities to bring this event back into the calendar, should it make sense in the schedule, and this continues to be the case.”
Not only could the proposed event impact participation in current lead-up events before the Australian Open, it could also compete with the year-long Davis Cup event, also sanctioned by the ITF that has suffered in recent years to lack of big names and scheduling conflicts.
Andy Murray recently began a three-year partnership with Tennis Australia to start his season each year at the Brisbane International to help promote the sport in that country.
“The protection and growth of the Australian Open and Australian Open Series is always a major priority for us,” Tennis Australia said in a statement. “We also have an ongoing determination to improve the pay and conditions of the international playing group. We will always listen to any proposal that meets both of those objectives.”