Hopman Cup axed after 31 years for new ATP Cup

SYDNEY: The unique mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth has been axed after 31 years and replaced by the ATP World Team Cup, officials said Thursday in a revamp of the season-opening tennis calendar.Two of the three cities to host the new men-only tournament -- Sydney and Brisbane -- had already been announced with Perth now confirmed as the third. It means the popular Hopman Cup, won this year by Swiss pair Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic, has had to make way."While many may be looking at this change and saying we’ve lost something, we’ve actually gained something," said Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley. "This global event, which will be broadcast in every country around the world, will showcase this great city (Perth) to the world."The ATP Cup will launch the global tennis season for the men -- this is their event, it means a lot to them and they’ve thrown their support behind it 100 percent," he added. Hopman Cup founder and former tennis great Paul McNamee told broadcaster ABC it was a sad day."Nothing could’ve been embraced by the people of the city more than the Hopman Cup in Perth, so my immediate feeling is sadness that it’s not going to be there anymore, and concern about where the Hopman Cup may be in the future," he said.The International Tennis Federation said it was keen to keep the mixed team format alive. "We are in discussions with potential partners to decide where and when this tournament will be next hosted," said ITF president David Haggerty.

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