Tennis bosses vote for overhaul

Orlando: World tennis chiefs on Thursday approved a radical Davis Cup overhaul that will condense the 118-year-old worldwide showpiece into an 18-team, week-long event but critics blasted the changes as a "black day" for the sport.

The current Davis Cup format is a knockout event played February, July, September and November at home and away venues around the globe, best-of-five match ties following Grand Slam events until the final round. 

Round-robin groups of three would send six group winners and two runners-up into knockout playoffs Friday-Sunday. 

The finals would feature two singles matches and one doubles match each day, all cut to best-of-three sets. The 2019 event will take place from 18-24 November in either Madrid or Lille.