Opposition to the ITF's Davis Cup reforms could be gathering momentum just a couple of weeks before a vote on the changes.

European tennis federations have been urged by the chief of Tennis Europe to ask more questions about the ITF's various reforms, including planned Davis Cup changes. In addition, Tennis Australia has told the ITF Board and other Davis Cup nations it will not vote in favor because key specifics have not been given in the plans.

A spate of recent inquiries from member nations was mentioned in the letter issued by the President of Tennis Europe, Vladmir Dmitriev, which appears to have been distributed to the 50 nations belonging to Tennis Europe.

It expressed two significant concerns about the Davis Cup reforms approved by the ITF Board, which international federations are scheduled to vote on at the ITF's Annual General Meeting at Orlando, Florida. The changes to the team competition would include switching to an 18-nation, one-week competition for $20 million played during the final week of the season, though a week of home and away ties has since been added.

WATCH—Tennis Channel Live crew discusses proposed Davis Cup Changes:

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A group of investors that includes Spanish soccer player Gerard Pique has offered the ITF more than $120 million annually to hold such a competition.

But Dmitriev said he was "particularly concerned that there is hardly any information received from the ITF regarding bank guarantees for the proposed US$ 120M per year," adding that the ITF had spoken just about "41M dollar guarantees," and described himself as "very concerned" about the "apparent lack of a backup plan" if the changes were not profitable.

Secondly, he suggested that a recent ATP announcement about re-starting its own World Team Cup event indicates "a significant number of players will boycott the planned Davis Cup...it has an unfavorable date, and no ranking points will be awarded."

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While agreeing there was a general need for a Davis Cup revamp, he also brought up other questions asked by European member nations, which include what the ITF plans to do with the other two weeks in which Davis Cup is currently played, and whether there will still be no ATP-organized competition during Davis Cup weeks.

Until such questions are "answered satisfactorily," said Dmitriev, "I cannot see

the real benefit for European nations or for tennis."

According to Reuters, the letter sent by Tennis Australia says it has "no choice other than to vote against the proposed amendments" because it cannot assess whether the "additional value to players and the nations" will be greater than the lack of "home and away camaraderie and all the local marketing, facility investment and player development benefit that comes with those ties."

"Very large numbers are being referenced, but there is not enough detail to give us confidence," it said, signed by Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley and several current and former officials and players.

Tennis Australia is an investor in the ATP's World Team Cup.

Tennis Europe, Australia declare opposition to Davis Cup reforms

Tennis Europe, Australia declare opposition to Davis Cup reforms

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Reuters did not say whether Tennis Australia addressed any issues other than Davis Cup.

The communication from Tennis Europe also referred to another planned vote on altering the requirement that any ITF Board member step down from their position if convicted of a criminal offence. The ITF Board wants discretion to allow members to keep their position if the conviction is not considered a criminal offense in other ITF countries.

The change implicates French tennis federation (FFT) President Bernard Giudicelli, who was convicted in France in 2017 for defamation. Giudicelli is on the ITF Board and has said he plans to vote in favor of the Davis Cup reforms, though French players and some officials have been vocal against the changes.

"When a proposed amendment could be viewed as an attempt to favour one individual, then this must be questioned," said Dmitriev, also opposing the decision to protect Giudicelli's position until the voting is completed.

"No Board can act on the assumption of a future decision of the AGM, and no decision can be retrospective," he said.

The ITF has also moved to introduce a 'Code of Ethics' for officials at the meeting. While Dmitriev said he would "commend the ITF for finally introducing one for its member nations," he argued that it should be controlled by an independent commission, not the Board, and opposed having a vote on it before the final document was released to member nations.

Commenting on the ITF's restructuring of the Pro Circuit, Dmitriev agreed with members who he said have expressed "doubts that these changes are in the best interest of the next generation or that they will benefit" European countries, adding, "There is a good chance that there will be a decrease in entry‐level tournaments in Europe." But the restructuring is not among the issues to be voted on at the meeting.

The Davis Cup reforms and changes to ITF rules will require two-thirds of the vote for approval. Players have given split opinions about the changes.

Tennis Europe, Australia declare opposition to Davis Cup reforms

Tennis Europe, Australia declare opposition to Davis Cup reforms

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