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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 AUGUST 2018 30 SPORTS TENNIS FOOTBALL ITF confident $3 billion Davis Cup revamp will secure tennis' future THE International Tennis Fed- eration has hit back at accusa- tions that there has been a lack of transparency about the pro- posed revamp of the Davis Cup and is confident the new plans will deliver long-term benefits to players, nations and sponsors. Tennis Australia had said in a strongly worded letter seen by Reuters that it planned to "vote against the proposed amend- ments" at the ITF's Aug. 13-16 AGM in Orlando, Florida since the reform process has been "far from transparent". Tennis Europe, a regional gov- erning body representing 50 member nations, also said it op- posed the ITF's plans to trans- form the 118-year-old Davis Cup into an 18-team, one-week season finale that is due to be held in November 2019. However, the ITF said the new World Cup of Tennis Finals will safeguard the future of the sport as it is being set up in a 25-year, $3 billion partnership with in- vestment group Kosmos and also has the backing of Wimble- don, French and US Open offi- cials. "The ITF has traveled exten- sively to consult with all stake- holders in tennis and incorpo- rated their feedback to develop a reform package for the Davis Cup which delivers long-term benefits for players, nations, fans, sponsors and broadcast- ers," the ITF said in a statement yesterday. "Rigorous due-diligence has been undertaken by independ- ent experts and the ITF has complete confidence in its part- ners, Kosmos, to deliver these transformational reforms." Tennis Europe said there was no clarity about how Kosmos, which was founded by Barce- lona and Spain soccer player Gerard Pique, plans to guaran- tee "US$120 million per year which would be the $3 billion deal over 25 years". The ITF's shake-up of the Da- vis Cup has been undermined after the men's governing body, the ATP, announced plans to introduce a rival 24-team World Team Cup, offering $15 million in prize money plus ranking points, into the calendar from early 2020 in Australia. The ATP's venture is endorsed by Tennis Australia. A smaller World Team Cup was held from 1978 to 2012 in Duesseldorf, Germany but of- fered no ranking points. The new competition is expected to be a part of the build-up to Janu- ary's Australian Open. The prospect of staging two rival team competitions within a few weeks in a crowded men's calendar has put the ITF and ATP on a collision course as many players may opt to com- pete in only one of the events. "We are focused on more than protecting the interests of any one nation; we are focused on doing what is best for the whole of tennis," the ITF said. "The reforms the ITF is pro- posing will secure the Davis Cup's long-term status. The ITF... is the only body in tennis that invests in the future devel- opment of tennis and the Davis Cup is critical to generating the revenue to fund this develop- ment." The ITF's revamped Davis Cup plans to bring together the 16 leading nations plus two wildcards in one city for a week- long climax to the season. While it has left traditionalists mourning the loss of the home- and-away format that can gen- erate partisan atmospheres, the ITF and its partners said it was necessary to "modernize and evolve to adapt to the demands of the 21st century". "The tennis landscape has changed significantly from when the Davis Cup competition was set up more than 100 years ago, but its heritage is its strength, and it remains a competition of considerable importance to the players and to the nations participating in it," All England Club and Wimbledon chairman Philip Brook said. "The AELTC believes that it is in the best interests of tennis to ensure that the Davis Cup has a strong and successful future, and is therefore supportive of the proposals of the ITF and the Kosmos group to address the challenges currently faced by the Davis Cup." Speaking about the US Open's support, United States Ten- nis Association President Kat- rina Adams said: "Along with innovating and inspiring fans to engage with Davis Cup, the commercial partnership with Kosmos is unprecedented and their investment will provide worldwide opportunities to grow the sport and build upon the success and history of the Davis Cup." French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli added: "It is a significant mo- ment that three Grand Slam boards have now pledged their official support for this change, which we know is needed for the future of tennis. "We have a great opportunity to change tennis worldwide with this proposed partnership with Kosmos... we have an opportu- nity to make history and create an ITF legacy." Davis Cup trophy Lampard gets perfect start as Derby snatch late win FORMER England midfielder Frank Lampard began his mana- gerial reign with a victory as his Derby County side came from behind to beat Reading 2-1 with a last-gasp goal in the Cham- pionship on Friday when the Football League season got un- derway. Derby's Tom Lawrence headed the winner in the 94th minute after teenager Mason Mount scored on the hour with a low drive to cancel out Jon Dadi Bodvarsson's powerful header that had put the hosts in front after 53 minutes at the Madejski Stadium. "What a finish. You can call it a stroke of luck, but those things are hard-earned," said Lampard. "It's a last-second winner, so it's an incredible feeling," he added after his name rang out among the cel- ebrating away fans at the final whistle. "This is football and this is why I came into management - the fans at the end of the game and those celebrations, we have to savour them because that's what hard work can get you." The win meant Lampard, who signed a three-year deal in May having ended his playing career with New York City, got the better of counterpart Paul Clement in the opposition dug- out, having worked as a player at Chelsea with the ex-Blues coach. He will be aiming for at least a playoff spot but is under no illusions as to how tough it will be to win promotion. "It's a tough, tough game. We have to learn because there is loads of room for improve- ment," added Lampard. Reading made the visitors work hard but were made to pay at the end as Wales winger Lawrence powered his header into the top corner from Mason Bennett's cross after Mount, on loan from Chelsea, had got Derby back in the match with a debut goal. The 40-year-old Lampard, capped 106 times by England between 1999 and 2014, won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champi- ons League crown with Chelsea but knows he has a lot to learn this season from his unfamiliar place on the bench. It is 10 years since former English champions Derby were in the Premier League and the pressure for a return is high. Derby came sixth last season under Gary Rowett, now in charge at Stoke City, before losing in the playoff semi-finals to Fulham, while Reading sacked the former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam in March and finished 20th under Clement.