The ITF has announced the final host for the Davis Cup Finals group stage as Valencia has joined Bologna, Glasgow and Hamburg in hosting the group stage phase. 16 teams will participate in the Davis Cup Finals as teams will be dividing into four groups, each consisting of four teams.
“Valencia was selected by the Davis Cup Committee and ITF Board after careful review of all bids received,” the ITF announced. Malaga was initially selected to be one of the four hosts but the ITF then decided to make Malaga the host for the knockout stage.
After Malaga was named the knockout stage host, the ITF needed to find a fourth location for the group stage. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) entered the bidding stage but pulled out, citing the financial and logical challenges.
The ITF selects Valencia as France pulls out of the bidding stage
“After finally being able to review the complete specifications in the designation of the host cities, the FFT has decided not to submit a bid in view of the onerous financial and operational conditions which no potential organiser in the French territory was willing to accept,” the FFT said in a statement.
“The FFT’s desire to promote and revitalise the Davis Cup is stronger than ever. “In the interest of this competition and of tennis, the FFT wishes to contribute to the reflection on the sporting format of the competition and the evolution of its economic model to make it more attractive”.
During last year’s Davis Cup Finals, it was rumored Abu Dhabi would be announced as the Davis Cup Finals knockout stage host for the next five years. Abu Dhabi certainly won’t be hosting the Davis Cup Finals in the next two years as two weeks ago Malaga was named as the host for the 2022 and 2023 knockout stage.
“The region of Andalucía has played an important role in the history of Davis Cup and Malaga is a perfect venue for the climax of this year’s men’s world cup of tennis,” the ITF announced two weeks ago.
