The Davis Cup has been battling through a crowded tennis calendar to retain its significance in the modern game, but the names taking part in the World Cup of team tennis over the next few days confirm it is still a huge prize in the sport.
It is becoming increasingly challenging to find weeks to fit in Davis Cup matches, with the revised format also coming under fire from traditionalists who pine for what they see as the glory of the competition.
Yet the decision to play the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in mid-November has given the competition a place in the diary, with last year’s event in Spain one of the highlights of the tennis year.
Jannik Sinner’s memorable victory against Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals propelled Italy towards their first victory in the competition since 1976, with that success propelling him to a first Grand Slam title at the
Australian Open a few weeks later as well as the world No 1 ranking.
Now the Davis Cup is back, with this week’s Group Stage Finals featuring some of the biggest names in the men’s game.
WHO IS PLAYING?
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are the biggest names taking part.
After their shock early exits at the US Open, Alcaraz and Djokovic had unexpected time to consider whether they would accept calls-ups to play for their nations.
There were suggestions that Alcaraz needed to take time away from tennis after a draining summer, but the Spaniard is jumping straight back into action after answering a call from Spain captain David Ferrer.
Djokovic has also confirmed he will play for Serbia, as they look to get back into contention to win the Davis Cup as they play in the play-off round against a Greece side featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas in Belgrade.
WHAT ABOUT THE FORMAT?
The 2024 Davis Cup Final Group Stage matches will take place in Bologna, Manchester, Valencia and Zhuhai this week.
Defending champions Italy, runners-up Australia and wild cards Great Britain and Spain are joined by the 12 nations that win in February’s Qualifiers.
Four nations are competing at each venue, with the top two progressing to the Final 8 that will conclude the competition in Malaga in November.
Defending champions Italy will be without Jannik Sinner, who has pulled out after his heroics at the US Open.
Italy will face the Netherlands, Belgium and Brazil in Bologna, with Matteo Berrettini a late call up to the Italian side following Sinner’s withdrawal.
Spain and Alcaraz are involved in a heavyweight Group B in Valencia, with Czechia, France and last year’s Davis Cup runners-up Australia in their group.
A host of American big names are missing for their ties in China, with Brandon Nakashima leading their team against Chile, Slovakia and Germany, who are without Alexander Zverev.
Britain’s Jack Draper is nursing an injury after his US Open run, but he hopes to play some part in their Group D campaign, as they take on Finland, Argentina and Canada in Manchester.
Djokovic and Tsistsipas are playing in a promotion match as they look to get their nation’s back into the elite group of the Davis Cup for next year.
Carlos Alcaraz: “It is very difficult to perform at the level that you want every day, and you have to be prepared to accept things as they come. Mentally I am very eager and motivated to continue improving, and physically I have done a good job since I lost in New York to be at an optimal level to face the Davis Cup and what is coming.”
Jack Draper: “The Davis Cup is a huge deal to me. But I never really understood it until I actually played it for the first time. I know the schedule in tennis is full and all these types of things.
“I remember when we were going to Colombia, it was a bit like, ‘Should I go, should I not?’ Obviously I went and I saw how important it is to everyone, how important it is to be there representing your country.
“So even though the tennis schedule is full and is relentless — and honestly I’ve barely had a day off since the start of the year — I want to be there, I want to be competing, and I want to be playing for my country.”
