Most tennis fans who have done a bit of history homework will be able to tell you that the Davis Cup was first held in 1900 and that the two original competing nations were the United States and the British Isles. France and Belgium were next to join in the competition in 1904 and since then it has grown to include well over 100 nations.

Many necessary modifications have been made to the tournament to meet an ever-more demanding competition calendar and television requirements. But essentially, the format has not changed much over the 107 years since the event was inaugurated -- although it has actually only been played over 95 years, mainly due to gaps during the war years.

Probably the most important change to the Davis Cup came in 1972 when the 'Challenge Round' was abolished and the cup holders, who until then would automatically play in the subsequent year's final, had also to compete as equals with all the other nations trying to wrestle the trophy from their grasp. It opened up the competition completely, and from 1972 onwards so many other nations did indeed win the cup and no little sporting pride and glory.

One thing which has stayed the same in the competition is its trophy, one of the most recognisable in all sport. There are a few such items, but like the FA Cup, the European Cup, the Stanley Cup or the Old Claret Jug, it is instantly recognisable as a symbol of its competition.

This weekend, women's tennis will turn to team competition in their equivalent of the Davis Cup, the
Fed Cup (until recently known as the Federation Cup, although evidently the multi-syllabic name was too long, so it was streamlined.) That's all fine. No problems there! I must say, however, that call it what they will, I haven't a clue what the competition's trophy looks like.

It actually doesn't really matter what sort of silverware the winning nation gets, although in the modern world of corporate branding, this might be an ideal time to find a designer, just as Dwight Davis did in the last days of the 19th century, and get somebody to raise the profile of an event which should in no way be treated as a poor relation to the Davis Cup.

Historical accounts show us that there was a time when women's tennis was ruled by only a small group of players and the International Tennis Federation -- dominated by men -- had almost to be beaten into submission to accept that they deserved the same competition as did the men. That is why the competition only got under way 63 years after the Davis Cup.

Taking the time context into consideration, one might understand why in 1963 women were still not treated as sporting equals to the men. It is only a little better in the first decade of the 21st century. But there is now a chance to grasp the opportunity and raise the profile of the Fed Cup and bring it alongside the Davis Cup. Unlike any period in the past 100 years of tennis, there are now so many good women players from so many nations across the globe, it would be a travesty not to do so.

Firstly, the format of playing four doubles and a crucial singles rubber in between on its own works
really well in the Davis Cup, and you wonder why the women have to squeeze their matches into only
two days. Ah yes! The women play only best of three. Well in that case, perhaps this could be the place to change all that and give them an opportunity to play best of five.

It is another thing which would make the tournament unique, and give the women another opportunity to show that they are equals worthy of the demands they make often and which are dismissed with little afterthought.

Would it be a good idea to make it best-of-five sets in the Fed Cup? Sportingo welcomes your views.