(Tennis news) As per a deal signed between the governing body of men's tennis, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and tournament promoters Kosmos, the Davis Cup is set to become a part of the ATP Tour calendar for the 2023 season. The decision comes after the ATP Cup, a joint venture between Tennis Australia and the ATP, will be replaced by a $15 million mixed event featuring teams from 18 countries at the beginning of next season. 

A statement released by ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi read “Our focus is always on creating the best possible experiences for our fans and players. Delivering compelling international team competitions that dovetail with the year-round calendar and continue to innovate is a vital part of that. The Davis Cup has an incredibly rich history and we're excited to see this important new alliance drive the event forward from 2023." 

This year’s Davis Cup Finals will feature teams from 16 nations competing across four groups in Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg and Valencia. The event started in 1900 and changed to a “home and away format” three years ago after a lucrative deal signed between the ITF and Spanish investment firm Kosmos. The ATP Cup in comparison was meant to be a rival event with high profile players and big prize money, but it failed to attract large enough crowds and faced logistical challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. ITF President David Haggerty said that the alliance with ATP will further strengthen the importance of team competition and the Davis Cup's "unique role in elite men's professional tennis". 

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