A planned radical revamp of the Davis Cup could be in jeopardy after Tennis Australia said in a strongly worded letter that it planned to "vote against the proposed amendments."
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) had been hoping its proposal to transform the 118-year-old men's competition into an 18-team season finale would be given the green light later this month.
But Tennis Australia said in the letter, addressed to the "President, Board and CEOs of Davis Cup Nations", that it would not endorse the ITF's World Cup of Tennis Finals, which would replace the Davis Cup and be played in one location over seven days scheduled for November 2019.
Tennis Australia said there was no clarity over the 25-year, $3 billion partnership to stage the event with investment group Kosmos.
The letter has been signed by Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley plus several former Australia Davis Cup captains as well as incumbent Lleyton Hewitt.
"We have written and spoken to the ITF president for several months now requesting clarity on the proposal from Kosmos, but this has not been forthcoming," said the letter.
"Very large numbers are being referenced, but there is not enough detail to give us confidence this proposal will genuinely deliver ... in the absence of such important information, we have no choice other than to vote against the proposed amendments."
Tennis Europe, which represents 50 member nations, also opposed the proposal.
"I am particularly concerned that there is hardly any information received from the ITF regarding bank guarantees for the proposed US$120 million per year," Tennis Europe President Vladimir Dmitriev said in a separate letter.
"I have not yet seen a final and feasible explanation on how the business model or the governance structure will be."
The ITF's shake-up of the Davis Cup has been undermined after the men's governing body, the ATP, announced plans to introduce a rival World Team Cup, a men's event offering $15 million in prize money plus ranking points.
The new competition is expected to be a part of the build-up to January's Australian Open.
Last month the ITF accused the ATP of not working together "in a beneficial and positive way for the whole of tennis", but the prospect of staging two rival team competitions within a few weeks in a crowded men's calendar has divided the players.
Traditionalists are mourning the loss of the home-and-away format at the Davis Cup that can generate partisan atmospheres.
"In light of the absence of crucial information, Tennis Australia will oppose the current proposed changes to the Davis Cup. We cannot agree to throw away the 118 years of history without absolutely understanding, in detail, where it takes us," the letter said.
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