TENNIS NEWS - The Davis Cup starts a new era this weekend as the revamped team competition kicks off with 12 qualifying-round ties spread across the globe to decide which nations progress to November's finals week in Madrid.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) believe the new structure, which will culminate with 18 nations battling it out in the Spanish capital as a climax to the season, will breathe new life into an event first held in 1900.
Change is rarely smooth though, and already some of the old problems are resurfacing with several big names notable by their absence while critics of the new format have again been vocal.
With last year's semifinalists – Croatia, France, Spain and the United States – exempted to the Davis Cup Finals week, and Britain and Argentina handed wildcards, this week's action will decide the 12 remaining spots.
Switzerland and Serbia are both in action, at home to Russia and away to Uzbekistan respectively, but they will have to do without Roger Federer and newly-crowned Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic who are both unavailable.
Austria, who host Chile in Salzburg, will be missing world No 8 Dominic Thiem who has cited health reasons for his withdrawal from the team.
Of the current ATP top 10 only Alexander Zverev is in action this week, spearheading Germany's home clash with Hungary.
While the popular 'home-away' format is retained for the qualifiers, the ties have been shortened to two days with two singles on Friday and a doubles plus two singles on Saturday.
Matches will be played over best-of-three sets not best of five – a move designed to lighten the load.
This weekend's matches will be the last chance for teams to play in front of a partisan home crowd, apart from Spain who are hosting the November 18-24 finals.
