The draw for Davis Cup 2017 first round is made on Thursday in London at 11am or 12pm.

Seeds are: Argentina, Croatia, GBR, Czech Rep, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Serbia.

Unseeded: Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain and USA.

Hoping it's not Spain at (their) home. Anything else feels potentially all right.

JonH wrote:

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At least the ITF are thinking about it. For the early rounds, ie last 16 and last 8, presumably home and away will apply and reducing to 3 sets per rubber may help the players particularly if those rounds keep their slots after the Australian and Wimbledon fortnight's.

Putting the semis and final into a final four style event with the Fed Cup and all in one venue sounds appealing. It may reduce overall commitment over the year to 3 weeks for the players, which is probably a good move. My concern is that with a home and away event they tend to get great atmosphere and large crowds, if it is in one location, they can't guarantee a home team playing and will the atmosphere and crowd size super. Good marketing will be needed and the right choice of venue. But good they are thinking.about it and I think going in the right direction

-- Edited by JonH on Wednesday 21st of September 2016 10:52:01 AM

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Agreed.  My worry is the neutral venue.  Imagine if this year's final between Argentina and Croatia was being played in New York, or Tokyo.  Would they get the crowds in ?  There is the argument that the O2 fills up for the end of tour finals and would do so even if Andy was not playing, but DC is a partisan team event and for me, it is the crowds that make the tournament so special.  Take that away and it risks becoming "just another tournament".

It will be interesting to see what they eventually come up with.

A lot of folks have suggested a World Cup of tennis style event before, and it is easy to see the appeal. But I looked back at the old ATP World Cup in Dusseldorf and over the years that withered and died. Playing for their country clearly didnt appeal with very little riding on it and although it attracted players like Mac, Connors, Lendl in the early days, lets face it those guys would have played anywhere if asked and paid . But it dwindled and died and crowds always appeared to be local crowds. Germany was invited each year, as Australia are in Hopman Cup, to maintain some local interest. Given the ITF are suggesting bidding in advance and a venue hosting it for 2-3 years, then clearly they cant guarantee a home country host. Didn't the Fed Cup have a final 4 a few years ago or is my memory serving me wrongly? That also seemed to lack atmosphere if I recall, I think it was played in Moscow etc and the Russians were hardly likely to come in numbers to watch other countries - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Fed_Cup 2003 was the year and Belgium, USA, Russia and France made up the 4 with France playing USA in the final...

I think venue and crowds are the key to making it this work - without that atmosphere and fanaticism, Davis Cup does become in danger of being just another event; thankfully the last 16 and q's maintain that tradition it seems, so hopefully the Final Four concept can be made to work 

-- Edited by JonH on Wednesday 21st of September 2016 11:29:39 AM

I would pretty much leave as is but hold it every two years.

Increases the prestige in a way by being less frequent and if just every odd year ( avoid Olympic year ) I am pretty sure more top players would plan for and commit so more 'authentic' winners through the rounds and in the final.

The best of 5 ( but final set TBs please ) sets it more apart and you have more epic matches like Andy vs Del Potro, and the many other great 5 setters and comebacks, and the can he / will he play all 3 days. And yes the home and away is great, with atmospheres pretty unique to Davis Cup and it would indeed need very good marketing to make a neutral final four really special.

But essentially to me they have got the product. They are ignoring the most obvious solution to the 'too much' issue and considering changing / diluting it for the worse.