The ITF has announced that Great Britain's Davis Cup team have received a wild card for the inaugural 2019 Davis Cup Finals.
The wild card means the 2015 champions will not need to compete in February's Qualifying Round, which will see 24 teams play 12 home-or-away ties for a place in the new week-long finale at the end of the year.
Great Britain are one of two nations awarded a wild card, with 2016 champions Argentina taking the second. They will be amongst the 18 teams taking part in the 2019 Davis Cup Finals, joining the twelve winning teams from February next year, and 2018 semi-finalists France, Spain, Croatia and the USA.
The event will be staged in Lille or Madrid, 18-24 November and will see six groups of three teams compete in a round-robin format, before the winners of each group, along with the next two top teams, advance to knockout stages. Ties will feature two singles matches and one doubles rubber, all of which will be best-of-three tie-break sets.
Who said what?
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive
"We are grateful to the ITF for awarding us a wild card entry into the 2019 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Finals. Although we didn't vote for the Davis Cup reforms, we have always said we will support the ITF whatever the outcome of the vote and it's our job now to get behind the competition and make it a success.
"Whilst we will miss having a Davis Cup home tie in 2019, we will be ensuring that we bring other exciting opportunities to watch top class tennis in Britain."
Leon Smith, Great Britain Davis Cup captain
"On behalf of the team we would like to thank the ITF for the wild card into the 2019 Davis Cup by BNP Finals. Our Davis Cup record over the last few years is something we are all very proud of, and our ranking amongst the top five nations in the world shows our commitment to the competition.
"We are looking forward to being amongst the best of the best next year, creating more memories and inspiring our fans to get behind us and the team as we look to win the competition."
For the latest news about Great Britain’s Davis Cup team, keep an eye out on our Davis Cup page and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
For more information about the reformed Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Finals, check out the FAQs on the ITF website.