Tennis world reacts to Davis Cup overhaul

The news dropped from out of nowhere. And almost everyone had a take.

The ITF announced that it was proposing sweeping changes to the format of the Davis Cup World Group, beginning in 2019.

Unanimously endorsed by the ITF Board of Directors, the changes must next be approved at August’s annual general meeting.

British tennis broadcaster David Law tweeted: “Whatever views people hold re the proposed change, nice to see so many that care about Davis Cup.”

Here are some of the reactions to the news among prominent members of the tennis punditry:

My understanding is that there’s still a bit of a process as far as getting votes to confirm later this year … I think it’s necessary and inevitable for survival of D Cup. Good news! https://t.co/Qhf262Ts7a

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) February 26, 2018

Mmmmmm the @ITF Going the Commercial Route? 1 question: What will this mean for Tennis in general? 1 fact: @DavisCup will never be the same https://t.co/SG2y1mmrr0

— Sven Groeneveld (@sventennis) February 26, 2018

Goodbye @DavisCup ????! Original spirit of competition is gone https://t.co/aEfZ3yGzo0

— Kafelnikov Yevgeny (@KYevgeni) February 26, 2018

RIP old Davis Cup! You were an outstanding competition…and at my time as the kid a dream to be part of it… hopefully the next one will be the same?!? ???? https://t.co/ZNwbi8njlL

— Paul Henri Mathieu (@PHMofficiel) February 26, 2018

Davis Cup moving to a 1 week event at the end of the year is LONG overdue. Now just make it every other year and we are cookin.

— Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) February 26, 2018

Just waiting for their announcement about the plans to transform the @FedCup……. https://t.co/uAcleTrDNp

— judy murray (@JudyMurray) February 26, 2018

Kunitsyn on new Davis Cup format: It's a great move. ITF finally realized that some changes are necessary. Just look at Laver Cup. First tournament was a huge success. I'm sure the new Davis Cup could be successful as well.

— Ilya Ryvlin (@ryvlin) February 26, 2018

What about Fed Cup? Will we ever see anything change? https://t.co/OdVSf2aiHa

— Anne Keothavong (@annekeothavong) February 26, 2018

Talked to Berdych in Marseille about the Davis Cup format and his answer was basically that he was fed up about talking and talking with the instances without seeing any results. Well, seems change is coming like wow now.

— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) February 26, 2018

My least favorite part of this proposal is putting it at the end of the season. Would be much more popular and well attended by players if it came instead during Davis Cup’s April or September dates.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 26, 2018

The money for this World Cup of tennis is big and it will need to be, given that it's basically RIP the off season.

— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) February 26, 2018

Great move by the ITF by the looks of things to turn the Davis Cup into a proper World Cup of tennis with a one-week, season-ending event.

Huge $3 billion, 25-year investment in conjunction with footballer Gerard Pique.

18 countries. Round-Robin. Got to be good news. pic.twitter.com/ybOsDOBJqQ

— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) February 26, 2018

Something had to be changed but they killed in my opinion the soul of the Davis Cup. Will take some time to make this work. https://t.co/ogBA7judvF

— Dewulf Filip (@GraveyardFilip) February 26, 2018