At the risk of being a nerd, I went through 16 countries who are most likely to be in WC running and allocated them points (16 top ,1 bottom) on 4 criteria: Davis Cup official ranking as of today, Recent winner and where not won recent finalist and then for those left who hadnt won or been in a final equal points, top ranked singles player, economic power (using 2017 GDP ranking from IMF)
List in reverse order would be:
16. Brazil 18 pts (2,3,2, 11 - big economy) 15. China 20 pts (1,3,1,16 - v big economy) 14. Canada 24 pts (6,3,7,8 - middling across board) 13. Austria 25 pts (7,3,12,3 - thiem in top10) 12. Czech Rep 27 pts (8, 13,4,2 - recent DC winners) 11. India 28 pts (4,6,3,15 - V Big economy, DC history as well) 10. Russia 32 pts (3,11,6,12 - big economy and recent winners) 9. Japan 32 pts (5,3,10,14 - v big economy and Nishikori highly ranked) 8. Australia 34 pts (12,10,5,7 - DC Ranking and history) 7. Italy 37 pts (11,8,9,9 - DC Ranking and sort of ok across board) 6. Belgium 38 pts (15,7,11,5 - DC ranking and Goffin in top 20)
5. Serbia 41 pts (13,12,15,1 - Djoko, recent winners, high ranking - smallest economy of the 16 i selected) 4. Switzerland 43 pts (9,14,16,4 - Federer, recent winners, small economy - not per capital but overall) 3. Germany 45 pts (10,9,13,13 - large economy, Zverev)
2. Great Britain 47 pts (14,15,8,10 - high ranking, v. recent winners, largish economy, Murray??)
1. Argentina 52 pts (16,16,14,6 - v recent winners, top ranked in this list, Del Potro and others, economy ok size wise)...
So Argentina and GB to get the wild cards on fairest and most transparent of measures!!
And clearly that will be completely wrong!!! (Watch out for 2 from Germany, Japan, China and India!)
Well, well. With GB and Argentina getting the actual wild cards, I have to say I now re present my startlingly brilliant analysis from last week above!
"I suppose we better get on with selecting these WCs. Yes, we'd really like Roger there and Nick and the Aussies would add interest. The rather annoying thing is we've had some folk analysing what would be fair. I know "fair" - my gawd. But probably best we go that route."
The next question is would we have a shot at hosting this thing? If we lost the Tour Finals after 2020, we might get this event coming along? Probably not, certainly not initially but if they move it around...
On the venue, given 6 teams are qualified and they will want a home nation to play, and will want to select venue well in advance, we can assume one of the 6 qualified will host. Probably discount Croatia, Argentina. Leaving Spain, France, USA (less likely because of geography) and Britain. I suspect we are also less likely, as we have tour finals at the moment and probably a saturation from an interest perspective. So France or Spain. My guess is with France hosting this year's final, Spain may well get next year's event. Madrid anyone?
On the venue, given 6 teams are qualified and they will want a home nation to play, and will want to select venue well in advance, we can assume one of the 6 qualified will host. Probably discount Croatia, Argentina. Leaving Spain, France, USA (less likely because of geography) and Britain. I suspect we are also less likely, as we have tour finals at the moment and probably a saturation from an interest perspective. So France or Spain. My guess is with France hosting this year's final, Spain may well get next year's event. Madrid anyone?
Well, as per Bob's confirmation on the other thread, it appears it is indeed Madrid selected for 2019/20.
I am getting good at this game - as well as my invoice my job application to the ITF will be in the post v soon
Presumably the surface wont be clay as per Madrid Open, one imagines they will change it to a hard court to tie in with the time of year they are playing the event?
Apparently it is the Caja Magica in 2019, where the May event the Madrid Masters 1000 event is played. They have a 12500 capacity and 3 indoor courts/stadiums they can use.
2020 they are looking at WiZink arena which is where they play basketball etc and holds 15500.