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SPORTS Tuesday 27 February 2018
Davis Cup to be transformed into a 1-week World Cup

By STEVE DOUGLAS a few hours before play-
The Davis Cup could be ing that night for his team in
transformed into a one- the Spanish league.
week, one-location, 18-na- "He has had conversations
tion World Cup of Tennis in with players, and the play-
a major overhaul aimed ers council," Haggerty said
at enticing the best men's of Pique. "The players are
players to play. very supportive of this idea.
Andy Murray and Novak "I have to say that I haven't
Djokovic are among the spoken to them directly,
stars to have reacted posi- but I know that Gerard has
tively to the creation of had some conversations
an annual season-ending over the last few days and
event, starting in 2019, that had positive comments
will have a total purse of from Andy Murray, from
$20 million. Novak Djokovic."
"We think the change we The ITF board unanimously
are making will make it so endorsed the proposal,
much more appealing and which will be submitted at
tangible to the top players," the ITF’s annual general
David Haggerty, president meeting in Florida in Au-
of the International Tennis gust. Haggerty said a deci-
Federation, told The Associ- This is a Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 file photo of the French captain Yannick Noah, center, holding the sion on the venue for the in-
ated Press on Monday. cup after France won the Davis Cup at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France. augural competition will be
Established in 1900, the Associated Press taken in four to six weeks.
Davis Cup has struggled There has been interest in
for relevance at times in a comprise a round-robin for- be able to factor that into The event has been de- the United States and Asia,
crowded sporting calendar mat followed by a quarter- their plans, travel, and pri- vised in conjunction with among others.
in recent years because final knockout stage. Each oritize it," Haggerty said in investment group Kosmos, It will be on a hard court to
many top players have tie would be best-of-three a phone interview. "Now, which was founded by Bar- begin with, so players fea-
chosen not to play. sets and consist of two sin- you may know where your celona and Spain soccer turing in the ATP Finals in
In this revamp, the World gles and a doubles. first tie is, but you're not sure player Gerard Pique. The November don’t have to
Cup of Tennis would be Sixteen teams would auto- where your second would partnership is worth $3 bil- change surfaces.
played over seven days in matically qualify for the fi- be. You're not sure of the lion over 25 years. “We want to find a relevant
the traditional week of the nals, and two more would surface. Pique has been a big driver city that is world class,”
Davis Cup final, rather than be selected. "There are some uncertain- behind the overhaul. He Haggerty said, “where
across four weekends in "In November 2018, players ties and this will bring some personally presented the sport and entertainment
February, July, September, will know who is playing in clarity to it to help make proposal to the ITF board can come together, where
and November. It would November 2019 and they'll the commitment to play." in Barcelona on Saturday, fans will travel.”q

Virginia firms No. 1 poll ranking, Xavier moves up to No. 3

By JOHN MARSHALL 2 Michigan State, which nament selection commit-
AP Basketball Writer clinched the Big Ten title tee revealed its initial rank-
A second blowout loss to this weekend, received 17 ings of the top 16 teams
Villanova didn't stop Xavi- first-place votes and Duke two weeks ago. The Cava-
er from notching the pro- rounded out the top five. liers moved up to No. 1 de-
gram's highest AP Top 25 The Musketeers (25-4, spite losing to Virginia Tech
ranking a week ago. The 13-3 Big East) rolled over a day before the rankings
Musketeers are rising again, Georgetown 89-77 de- were released.
passing the Wildcats on spite leading scorer Trevon Last week, Virginia (26-
Monday to reach yet an- Blueitt being held to two 2, 14-1 ACC) won its third
other program high at No. points on 1-of-10 shoot- ACC title in five years by
3. ing. Blueitt, who averages dominating Pittsburgh , lim-
The poll switch comes af- 19.8 points per game, has iting the Panthers to seven
ter the Musketeers beat 3 combined points his last first-half points in a 66-37
Georgetown in their only two visits to Washington, victory.
game last week and Vil- D.C."I hope that the Big East The Cavaliers are still in line
lanova lost to unranked tournament isn't played to receive the No. 1 overall
Creighton. The Wildcats here," Xavier coach Chris seed in the NCAA Tourna- Virginia's De'Andre Hunter, center, shoots as Pittsburgh's Kham-
dropped just one spot, to Mack said he told Bluiett in ment. eron Davis, left, and Jared Wilson-Frame, right, defends during
No. 4, and a game behind jest toward the end of the “It was something that we the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Satur-
day, Feb. 24, 2018, in Pittsburgh. Virginia won 66-37.
Xavier in the Big East stand- game. "I think maybe folks knew about coming into Associated Press
ings. in D.C. that don't have a this game, so it was ex-
Virginia firmed up its hold TV and come to the games citing,” Virginia forward Kansas and Gonzaga both week’s poll.
on the No. 1 ranking, re- they may think he's an av- Isaiah Wilkins said. “It is a won conference titles this Kansas (23-6, 12-4) clinched
ceiving 48 votes from a erage player, a below av- good feeling, but there is past weekend. its record-setting 14th
media panel in the poll erage player." still a lot of basketball to be The Jayhawks’ Big 12 title straight Big 12 title with a
released on Monday, up Virginia was the top overall played.” was enough to move them 74-72 win over No. 6 Texas
six from a week ago. No. seed when the NCAA Tour- KANSAS CLIMBS, ZAGS FALL ahead of the Zags in this Tech on Saturday. q