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The ITF announces historic plans with Kosmos to transform #DavisCup and generate substantial revenues for global tennis development

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/DscrQdAnxW pic.twitter.com/iu9Hg1tIZd
— ITF (@ITFTennis) February 26, 2018

Davis Cup, one of the most prestigious competitions and often one of the most sharply criticized, may finally be getting some major changes. A proposal from the ITF plans to revolutionize the annual global men’s team competition.

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I’m so excited to announce this historic partnership with the @ITF_Tennis ➡️ https://t.co/Wk6JeCZ928 pic.twitter.com/PkRuRhzqmu
— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) February 26, 2018

With the ITF and Kosmos, a company owned by FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique, the Davis Cup would become a one-week competition held in November at a neutral site with 18 of the best nations battling for the prestigious trophy.

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

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Kosmos plans to invest a staggering $3 billion towards the event. The proposed new format for the Davis Cup would feature the same tie format of singles and doubles matches, but with best-of-three sets instead of five.

Digesting this Davis Cup thing but some of the best sport, and most heroic individual performances, I've ever been lucky enough to cover has been with the home/away element of DC ties.
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) 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
— SvenTennis (@sventennis) February 26, 2018

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With such a radical change to one of tennis’ most established competitions, many view the ITF’s proposal as destroying the Davis Cup. Some former Davis Cup champions and heroes publicly disapproved of the possible changes coming.

https://t.co/7S2tO8OgEg
— Lleyton Hewitt (@lleytonhewitt) February 28, 2018

Well F*King said ! https://t.co/OlN3tuDBjT
— AmelieMauresmo (@AmeMauresmo) February 28, 2018

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Woodbridge blasts radical 'World Cup' plan for Davis Cup (Pic:Reuters): https://t.co/snyUeTBvIc #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/vGiT3S61hT
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) February 27, 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

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Lucas Pouille, who was part of the French Davis Cup-winning team last year, said the changes are a death sentence. Fellow Frenchman Julian Benneteau penned a letter to ITF President David Haggerty advising him "not to erase 118 years of tennis history."

However, some are optimistic about the possibility of a new and fresh competition for tennis.

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

I think the @DavisCup changes are great. My issue is the date. Playing Thanksgiving weekend means instead of just 2 counties having their seasons extended, now 18 countries will. One of the points is to extend the offseason. Why not play in the current SF week (after US Open)?
— Brett Haber (@BrettHaber) February 26, 2018

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The new proposal will be voted upon in August at the annual ITF general meeting, where the future of the 118 year competition will be decided.

Players largely oppose changes to Davis Cup

The 14th annual Desert Smash charity tennis event is Tuesday, March 6, and there are many reasons to mark your calendar. Here are just five of those reasons, including the event's host, Serena Williams.

Desert Smash is the kick off to Indian Wells, which will be broadcast on Tennis Channel over the next two weeks.

STREAM DESERT SMASH LIVE on TENNIS.com

WATCH LIVE on TENNIS CHANNEL

PURCHASE TICKETS AT* https://desertsmash.ticketleap.com/ *