ITF

N E W S 40 ITFWorld // AUTUMN 2019 The countdown to the biggest weekend in global tennis can begin in earnest after the draws for the 2020 Davis Cup World Group I and World Group II Play-offs were conducted at the ITF Offices in London in October. With the ties being played at the same time as the 2020 Davis Cup by Rakuten Qualifiers on 6-7 March, a total of 36 competition home-and-away showdowns will be played in as many cities around the world – a true Davis Cup extravaganza. The global nature of this stage of the competition is epitomised by some intriguing World Group I Play-off ties between the likes of Barbados and Norway, Venezuela and New Zealand and Ukraine and Chinese Taipei. Among the nations in action are Switzerland, who were crowned Davis Cup champions in 2014 following victory over France in Lille. Their quest to ascend the competition ladder once more continues with a tussle against Peru. Of the 12 World Group I Play-off ties, eight will feature nations from differing regions, with seven of the clashes taking place for the first time in the competition's history. Both figures are higher within the Davis Cup World Group II Play-offs, with only three of the 12 ties having been staged before, while 10 of the clashes will be inter-regional affairs. Stefanos Tsitsipas's Greece, who advanced from Group III this year, will go head-to-head with Philippines, while Bulgaria face Costa Rica, Zimbabwe travel to Syria and Denmark are preparing for a clash with Puerto Rico. Pakistan and India will contest their outstanding Asia/Oceania Group I tie on 29-30 November, with the losing nation hosting Slovenia in a World Group II Play-off battle. The 12 winning nations from the World Group I Play-offs will compete in World Group I ties in September 2020 along with the losing nations from Davis Cup set for global extravaganza as Group I and Group II Play-off ties confirmed the Qualifiers. The losing nations from the World Group I Play-offs will compete in World Group II ties in September 2020, along with the winning nations from the World Group II Play-offs. To complete the picture, losing nations in the World Group II Play-offs will compete in regional Group III events in either June, July or September 2020. The decision to introduce an expanded World Group format for Davis Cup Group I and Group II competition was announced by the ITF in September following extensive consultation with National Associations. The new structure expands the number and scope of home-and-away ties and provides a streamlined progression route for teams through the tiers of the competition. For full details of the World Group I and World Group II Play-off draws, visit www.daviscup.com ROUND-UP NEWS A U T U M N 2 0 1 9 Peter McNamara, one of the world's pre-eminent doubles players of the 1980s who went on to enjoy a successful coaching and mentoring career, died in July at the age of 64 after a private battle with prostate cancer. The Australian, who won two Wimbledon doubles titles and the Australian Open doubles crown with compatriot Paul McNamee, was also a member of Australia's 1986 Davis Cup- winning side and reached the Top 10 in both the ATP Tour singles and doubles rankings. McNamara won 14 of his 19 ATP doubles titles with McNamee, including the 1979 Australian Open and the men's doubles titles at Wimbledon in 1980 and 1982. His finest Grand Slam singles performance came at the 1980 Australian Open, reaching the semi-finals in his home town, Melbourne. Famed for his powerful one-handed backhand, NcNamara won five singles titles during his career, notching victories against Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl in two of his 12 finals. Having missed two years of his playing career due to a serious knee injury, McNamara retired in 1987, aged 28. He returned to court as a coach, working with fellow Australian Mark Philippoussis and former world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov during their time together at the Mouratoglou Academy. In recent years, he had worked with compatriot Matt Ebden and China's Wang Qiang, overseeing her rise to the world's Top 20 during their four-year spell together before announcing his departure in February. McNamara died peacefully at his home in Germany. He is survived by wife Petra and children Justin and Rochelle. O B I T U A R Y PETER MCNAMARA

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