Davis Cup and BJK Cup to change format in 2025

The Davis Cup is to partly revert to a home-or-away tie structure, while the Billie Jean King Cup is set to see the latter stages of its tournament streamlined

The Davis Cup trophy in Malaga, Spain in 2023 Image Credit: Imago / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

October 4, 2024

Both the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup are to undergo further format change next year, as announced by the International Tennis Federation.

Starting from the 2025 season, the Davis Cup will see a partial return to the classic home-or-away knockout ties that formed the structure for much of the tournament’s 124-year history.

Following a contentious partnership with footballer Gerard Pique’s company Kosmos between 2018 and 2023, during which the tournament underwent sweeping format changes, the classic knockout structure was replaced by a group stage – consisting of four groups of four – in September followed by an eight-team Finals event.

These reforms have been largely unpopular with fans and players alike, leading to nations playing each other in neutral venues with sparse crowds, while the tournament has also suffered commercially as a result.

But the ITF have now announced that the September group stages, currently played in four different locations across six days, will be replaced with seven home-or-away ties played across two days. This is a partial reversion to the classic format, although the Final Eight event taking place in one city will remain.

The winner of each knockout tie in September will qualify for the Final Eight, joining the host nation for the showpiece event in November.

IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE DAVIS CUP/BJK CUP CONFIRMED BY THE ITF:

Davis Cup
– Two home/away qualifying rounds: one in february, one in september — no more group stage
– Host nation directly into the Final 8 stage in november

BJK Cup
– Big qualifying round in april — 7…
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 4, 2024

In an attempt to bring the women’s and men’s international team competitions in closer alignment with one another, the ITF also announced that the Billie Jean King Cup will transition away from the 12-team event that is currently in place, to be replaced with an eight-nation final as exists in the Davis Cup.

Next year, the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers will be played across seven group events in April, consisting of three teams per group. Each three-day event will be held in one location and played on a round-robin basis, with the seven group winners joining a host nation in the 2025 Finals. Home-or-away ties will then return in the qualifiers from 2026 onwards.

“Today’s news is another positive step forward for both the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge and Davis Cup, and I am excited for the future of both competitions,” said David Haggerty, the ITF President.

“The format amendments aim to build on the success we have seen across both events in recent years and contributes towards our long-term ambition to bring them more in sync under the World Cup of Tennis banner.”

It remains to be seen what effect these changes will have on the future commercial appeal of both the Davis Cup and the BJK Cup.

But the return of knockout ties will likely come as welcome news to players who have bemoaned a loss of atmosphere in the Davis Cup since 2019’s format change, while tournament organisers will hope this assuages the concerns of fans who have echoed similar views in the recent editions of this historic event.