The ATP have agreed to award ranking points for players participating in Davis Cup events from 2009.

From 2009, ATP ranking points will be awarded to players on an accumulated basis over the preceding 52-week period for the 4 rounds of Davis Cup and the play-off round. These accumulated points will count as one result and will be eligible to count for ranking purposes as one of a player’s four best results from the new 500 category.
ITF President, Francesco Ricci Bitti, said,
This is a win/win situation for Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and the ATP. The calendar is stabilised for the upcoming years in the model that the top players requested and, for the first time in history, Davis Cup players will receive well-deserved ranking points for their performance in the competition.
Etienne de Villiers, ATP’s Executive Chairman, said:
We are delighted to award South African Airways ranking points for Davis Cup starting in 2009. The new ATP Tour structure for 2009 is about providing fans, broadcasters and sponsors with very best circuit possible. Like the Tour, Davis Cup is a key component to the growth and future of tennis. We look forward to an exciting and memorable season to come.

Many will hope that this will put an end to the likes of Andy Murray and other top players withdrawing from crucial Davis Cup ties.

'Bout time....the irony of Muzza playing DC playoff tie where we might get relegated and where there are NO points LOL  

Why are you so pleased????  It's another awful decision like the Round Robin last year.  Individual points for a team event is wrong and this won't help Murray at all as it is unlikely we will be in the World Group again within the next five years.  As you only get points for live rubbers are players going to tank doubles matches to potentially get more points on the final day?  

Does this mean you'll like the Davis Cup now?

I think its great idea they've done this even though I don't completely understand how the points system works for it  I suppose once its in practice it will be more easier to understand.

Yes but just 5 points if he wins his first match and then another 10 if he wns on sunday in a live rubber.  15 points that would be unlikely to make his 5 optionals, and if we lost then he wouldn't get any other points until we reach the play-offs again, with just another 15 points available.

He got 25 points for a 2nd round loss in Moscow last year.

This is good news but it'll will only really works if the team is in the world group so this will put Andy at a slight disadvantage.

But Boggo has just no chance of winning any live rubbers in the world group, let alone 2.

This is good for Davis Cup but bad for Andy. It gives the big players more incentive to play but seeing as GB have, well, no chance of hanging about the upper reaches this won't bring him many points. But guys he's in competition with for ranking spots, the French guys, the Argies, this gives them an oppertunity to make 500 points! That's a lot to think about!

Didn't we all just agree on this thread that it's the complete opposite - it doesn't act as an incentive to the big names due to the lack of ranking points available.