After 31 years of being one of Western Australia's premier sporting events, the Hopman Cup has been axed to make room for the revamped ATP Cup.
With 750 ranking points and $22 million in prize money at stake, the ATP Cup will become the richest tennis tournament in the world outside of the Grand Slams.
While the new tournament will bring 24 teams and more than 100 players Down Under, only a portion of the world-class event will take place in Perth.
The Western Australian capital will host the first six days of the 24-team event along with Brisbane, with the eight-team finals to be played in Sydney.
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The field in Perth will have to include four of the top 12 ranked men in the world and eight of the top 24.
Although the world's best male players will still take the stage at Perth Arena, 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer has been left saddened by the news.
"This is where it has always been, this is where the spirit is or was and will always be. It's a bit sad news that's happening," Federer said in Miami.
"I enjoyed the last three years playing there. I'm a bit torn."
Dreams come true at the #HopmanCup.@serenawilliams v @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/ml0D5hMZ2T
— Hopman Cup (@hopmancup) January 2, 2019
It's not the first time that the Swiss ace has thrown his support behind the doomed 31-year-old tournament.
While the ATP Cup is an exclusively male event, an entire pool of world-class women's tennis players will be forced interstate for their Australian Open preparation.
This year's tournament brought record crowds to Perth Arena and featured a once-in-a-lifetime match between Federer and Serena Williams.
Federer, who shared the court with Williams for the first time in their illustrious careers, said that scrapping the Hopman Cup would be a pity as it brings world-class players together in a mixed environment.
"We had an unbelievable event here for so many years," the 37-year-old Swiss told reporters in January.
"These events like the Laver Cup and other team competitions back in the day, they get the players closer together - men and women.
"We share a lot of tournaments together, but it's not the same as when you play together or share the same court.
"The players have always enjoyed this event, and let's hope it continues in some way shape or form."
The Hopman Cup was co-founded by Australian Davis Cup player and four-time doubles Grand Slam champion Paul McNamee, with the inaugural event held in 1989.
While the founder has been left devastated by the tournament's abrupt end, he has refused to rule out the possiblity of continuing the event in a different location.
"[It was] a wonderful event that was embraced by Perth," McNamee told ABC News.
"Nothing could've been embraced by the people of the city more than 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."
Obviously end of an era for @hopmancup in Perth... massively fond memories, with contribution to building of @pertharena a real legacy. Good luck @TennisAustralia with the new event, and to @ITF finding a new home for Hopman where it can grow & fans also love it. Thank you WA ❤
— Paul McNamee (@PaulFMcNamee) March 28, 2019
The Women's Tennis Association is yet to confirm whether a new event will be created to allow international women's tennis to continue to be played in Perth.
