The LTA has confirmed Manchester’s AO Arena will again host a Davis Cup finals group stage later this year.
The event – a key stage of the men’s ‘World Cup of Tennis’ – will enable fans up and down the country to see some of the world’s best players in action.
Britain will take on three other nations from September 10-15. Three other nations will host the three other Group Stage events.
As last year, Britain will join Spain, the 2023 finalists Italy and Australia, as well as 12 other nations, each split into four groups of four countries to be decided by a draw next week.
Each nation will play three times over the six-day competition. The top two nations from each of the four groups will advance to a quarterfinal ‘Final 8’ knock-out competition held in Malaga between November 19-24.
Last year Britain emerged from a very competitive group to make the Final 8, saving four match points against France to win 1-6 7-6(4) 7-6(6) in one of the most memorable Davis Cup doubles matches in history, staged before a record GB crowd of 13,000 spectators.
Bigger and better
LTA director of major events and digital, Chris Pollard said: “We are delighted to bring the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage back to Manchester again this September since we saw first-hand how the fans embraced the event and how their support helped our team win their group in 2023. We are looking forward to working with our partners at Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester to make the Davis Cup even bigger and better this year, helping open up our sport to many more people.”
Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, said: “We can’t wait to welcome the Davis Cup back to Manchester again this September after such a brilliant tournament here last year. Already known the world over as a great sporting city, we’re a perfect fit for the tournament which will provide a welcome boost for the local economy as well as being great news for tennis fans here in the UK and the North.
“We also know from last year how much excitement the tournament generated locally across Manchester – particularly amongst the youngest tennis players at our clubs and parks – and we’ll be looking to further build on this legacy of inspiration again this year.”
Tennis legacy
Victoria Braddock, managing director of Marketing Manchester, said: “With Manchester’s rich legacy in tennis, we are poised to deliver an unparalleled experience for tennis fans across the world and offer a prestigious platform for the sport’s top talents.
“This event further elevates the excitement surrounding Greater Manchester’s 2024/25 sports calendar, featuring highlights such as the World Snooker Tour Championships in April, the Manchester Open Squash Championships, and the Great Manchester Run in May, and culminating in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in August 2025. We eagerly anticipate welcoming the global sports community to Greater Manchester and showcasing the fantastic venues across the region.”
In 2015, Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years, reaching two more semi-finals and three quarter-finals since then. Manchester is the fifth different city to host the Davis Cup in Britain over the last 11 years, joining Coventry, Glasgow, London and Birmingham.
The draw for the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals will takes place in London on Tuesday, March 19 at 2pm, and will be streamed live on the Davis Cup website.
Picture credit: Getty Images for LTA
