The format will be tightened from 18 to 16 teams, as announced several months ago.

These sixteen teams will be divided into four groups, of which the first two will advance to the quarter-finals.

Asked about the future location of this knockout phase, and as the rumor of Abu Dhabi roars in the tennis world, "we have a preferential option that we are negotiating, but there is nothing yet signed ", was satisfied to answer the CEO of Kosmos Tennis Enric Rojas, promoter of the new formula of the Davis Cup developed since 2019.

Organizers are hoping for an announcement "in the coming weeks," Rojas added at a press conference alongside International Tennis Federation (ITF) President David Haggerty ahead of the 2021 final.

As for the four cities intended to each accommodate a hen, "a call for candidates will be launched in January" and "a final decision is expected in mid-March," said Rojas, explaining "seek agreements over three to five years".

With one essential criterion: that in each host city, one of the group's four teams plays at home.

Between the group stage and the knockout stage, "there will be two days of rest and adaptation" for each qualified team, said Mr. Rojas.

The competition will continue to be played indoors.

In 2019, for the first edition of the new Davis Cup, the entire competition took place in Madrid over one week.

But, faced with a Dantesque lineup and a meager attendance -except for Spain-, the 2021 edition was extended to eleven days and its group stage was shared between three cities, Turin (Italy), Innsbruck (Austria ) and Madrid.

© 2021 AFP