Great Britain to avoid Davis Cup qualifier in February after wild card boost

Great Britain has received a wild card entry to the group stage of the upcoming Davis Cup next year.

It is the third time Leon Smith's team have been given free passage since the new format was introduced in 2019 and means they avoid having to play a qualifying match in February and will go straight through to the first part of the finals in September, where they are again set to host a group.

This year saw record attendances in Manchester, where Britain defeated Australia, Switzerland and France to book their place in the final eight in Malaga this week.

There was criticism, though, of low crowd numbers for ties not involving Britain, with a video of empty seats posted by three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka provoking more criticism of the format.

The International Tennis Federation was impressed with the ties at the AO Arena and Manchester is the front-runner to host again next year.

Speaking in Malaga, ITF president David Haggerty said: "Manchester was great. We went to what I would say is more a football town and brought tennis, which is really great for Great Britain.

"We think we can build on it again. We had the most people that have ever watched a non-GB tie and to have the great turnout for the GB ties, but we want every single session to be that great everywhere we play."

Britain's stay in Malaga proved to be brief, with a 2-0 defeat by Serbia in the last eight on Thursday ending their hopes of lifting the trophy again.

Spain were also awarded a wild card, with the finals staying in Malaga for another year and a group stage in Valencia, while this year's finalists Italy, who will also host a group stage in Bologna, and Australia also go straight through to the group stage.

After next year, the format could change again, although it seems likely to be tweaks rather than anything to placate those calling for a return to home and away.

Novak Djokovic brought the issue back to the fore this week by calling for the final eight event to move every year.

Organisers are delighted with the bumper crowds and great atmospheres in Malaga but insist they are talking to players, with tournament director Feliciano Lopez saying: "We had a very productive conversation with Novak two days ago.

"One of the things he said is that the final eight should be rotating a little bit more because for the last five years it's only been played in Spain. But Spain was also willing to bid.

"I think it's going to be tough to find another city in Europe that has everything that Malaga is at the moment offering. We are in the right place but I think we all agree that it's not going to stay forever in Malaga."

Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt remains a fierce critic and, after losing in the final for the second year in a row, he said: "Malaga has put on a great event in terms of what they can do with the format that they've got.

"There's no home and away and there's no five sets, so it's not ideal. We are playing on a surface that I'm really sick of playing on, to be honest. That's not what Davis Cup is about. It's playing on clay, grass, outdoor elements. It's obviously pretty frustrating."

Billie Jean King Cup rematch with France

Meanwhile, Great Britain will face a rematch with France in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in April.

Anne Keothavong's side were beaten by the same opponents in Coventry this year, with Katie Boulter losing to Caroline Garcia and Harriet Dart beaten by Garcia and Alize Cornet.

Britain defeated Sweden earlier this month to avoid relegation but next year's tie will be even tougher given France will host, which could well mean a contest on clay from April 12-13.

Boulter has established herself as the clear British number one this season while Keothavong must wait to see if Emma Raducanu, who is building up to a comeback after six months out following wrist and ankle operations, is available.

Raducanu may well need to play in order to be eligible to compete at the Paris Olympics next summer.

Seville will again host the 12-team finals next November. Champions Canada and runners-up Italy have already secured two of the spots along with hosts Spain and wild cards Czech Republic.

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