Fed Cup revises rules for dead matches

London: The fourth singles in a Fed Cup tie will be scrapped if a team has an unassailable 3-0 lead, under new rules brought in to make the competition "more player-friendly."

Under the ITF's revised dead rubber policy, the doubles will be brought forward and played instead of the fourth singles.

Juan Margets, executive vice-president of the ITF, says in a statement on Thursday that the rule change "came in response to requests from players, captains and national associations" following its introduction in the Davis Cup.

Under the ITF\'s revised dead rubber policy, the doubles will be brought forward and played instead of the fourth singles.

If a tie is decided after the fourth singles, the doubles will still be played and a first-to-10 match tiebreaker will replace the third set. This will apply in group play but not in the final, when the doubles won't be played.

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