This year’s ATP Finals in Turin may be seen as a warm-up event for a contest that could be one of the highlights of the tennis year, with the draw for the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga throwing up some exciting ties.
Eight nations have made it through to a Final shoot-out to decide the Davis Cup, with defending champions Italy top seeds after Jannik Sinner fired them to glory in last year’s competition.
The bottom half of the draw will feature Spain, who failed to qualify last year after Carlos Alcaraz opted out of the Finals Group Stage that is played the week after the US Open.
Alcaraz’s shock early exit at the US Open this year meant he had more time to commit to the Davis Cup and he played a full part in a team captained by David Ferrer qualifying for the Malaga finale.
Spain’s presence in the Finals is certain to ensure a carnival atmosphere in Malaga in mid-November, with the prospect of a Sinner vs Alcaraz showdown in the final a real possibility.
Before that, Sinner and Italy face a quarter-final tie against a strong Argentina side that emerged through Group D in Manchester last week.
Argentina captain Guillermo Coria has plenty of top 30 players to select from, but they are not at home on indoor hard courts and that should give Italy a big edge if Sinner plays.
The second quarter-finals sees what could be a very strong USA team taking on Lleyton Hewitt’s Australia, who have been runners-up for the past two years in the Davis Cup.
Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton could all play for a USA team captained by doubles legend Bob Bryan.
The third quarter-final sees a Germany team that may be boosted by the return of Alexander Zverev take on 2022 Davis Cup champions Canada, who will have indoor specialist Félix Auger-Aliassime leading their charge.
The winner of the Germany vs Canada tie could face Spain in the semi-final and there is a possibility that this could be Rafael Nadal’s final tournament of his professional career.
“I spoke to Rafa, but we don’t know anything yet,” said Spain captain David Ferrer.
“There is a possibility that he could be with us in Malaga in November. His goal was the Olympics this year, then he stopped. He needed to rest and spend time with his family, so it was right not to call him up now.
“I will speak to him later. The important thing is that he is well. If he arrives in good condition in November, he will certainly be a player we can count on.
“There is plenty of time to define the team that will take to the field in Malaga. Now they have to focus on the tournaments. I have a lot of good players to choose from.
“It is a positive thing, but at the same time a negative thing: someone will have to be left out. At the moment I am not 100% clear. I only know that this week they have given me immense joy.”
Alcaraz is also hoping Nadal plays in Malaga as he said: “I heard David [Ferrer] say that if Rafa was there, he would go all out with him. I hope I’m also physically fit to be able to go to Malaga. It’s something that I’m particularly excited about and I hope Rafa is there too.
“Rafa is one of the greatest in the history of our sport. For me, he is my idol, he is the one I watched the matches with when I was a child. I have tried to learn from him as much as I could during the time we were together. He has been a unique tennis player.”
Ferrer is relishing the prospect of playing the Davis Cup Finals on home soil and if it is Nadal’s farewell, it will be quite an occasion.
“It’s an incredible feeling, we played all the matches very well, although it wasn’t easy. They believed in themselves a lot, I couldn’t be happier for them,” said Ferrer after qualifying for Malaga.
“These are moments of great happiness. I can only congratulate all my players for the faith they had in their tennis. Happy for them and also for me, this week spent in Valencia is a beautiful memory that we will carry with us forever.
“The word that defines this team is courage. Courage for having overcome difficult moments. It would have been impossible to achieve this result without this quality.”
The Davis Cup Final 8 Draw
The full quarter-final draw for the Davis Cup Final 8 is:
- Italy v Argentina
- USA v Australia
- Germany v Canada
- Netherlands v Spain
The eight teams will compete to be crowned 2024 world champions at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena in Malaga on 19-24 November.
Zverev's Uncertain Future with Germany
Germany captain Michael Kohlmann on Monday nominated Jan-Lennard Struff und Yannick Hanfmann as well as doubles specialists Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz for the November 18-24 event in Malaga, Spain, where Germany play 2022 champions Canada in the quarter-finals.
The fifth and final spot remains vacant, with the national federation DTB saying that “this leaves the possibility that Alexander Zverev could strengthen the team on short notice.”
World number two Zverev said during the weekend’s Laver Cup in Berlin “I don’t know” whether he will play Davis Cup.
Zverev suffered from a cold and a fever in Berlin, and had previously complained about dizziness and coughing. The DTB gave no medical update.
The finals late in the year would prolong his season and give him less rest for 2025 where the Australian Open starting in mid-January are the first highlight.
Zverev and Struff were not part of the team that earlier in September qualified for the Davis Cup finals. Zverev has said in the past that winning the Davis Cup was “a big aim” for him. Germany last won the competition in 1993.
USA Lineup Confirmed for Davis Cup Final 8
A loaded line-up leads the United States’ Davis Cup quest.
U.S. Davis Cup captain Bob Bryan today announced that Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek will represent the USA in the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8, to be played November 19-24 at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain.
The United States will face Australia in a quarterfinal clash of the two most successful nations in Davis Cup history.
The USA is playing for a record-extending 33rd Davis Cup championship—and first Davis Cup crown since 2007 when it beat Russia in the final staged in Portland, Oregon.
The 28-time Davis Cup champion Australia was runner-up to Italy last year. Captain Lleyton Hewitt’s squad is playing for its first Davis Cup championship since 2003.
Title Defense: Italy's Quest for Consecutive Glory
The draw for the Davis Cup Final 8 has been revealed, with Italy set to defend its title against Argentina. The knockout stage features eight teams: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and the USA, competing from November 19-24 in Malaga, Spain. Italy secured its spot by going undefeated in the group stage, while Argentina finished second in its group. The USA, a 32-time champion, faces off against Australia, which has not claimed the title in over two decades. Other matchups include Canada versus Germany and the Netherlands against Spain.
The knockout matches will reveal which teams advance to the semi-finals, with Italy aiming to maintain its title, while the USA looks to return to championship form against Australia.
A Look Ahead to the Final 8
The Davis Cup Final 8 is set for late November, featuring eight countries vying for the trophy. However, Germany will compete without top player Alexander Zverev, who has criticized the current format favoring neutral venues over traditional home-and-home matches. Spain is a strong contender with Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, but Nadal's health remains a concern as he may retire soon. Italy, led by Jannik Sinner, aims to defend their title, striving to become the first team to win consecutive championships since 2012-13.
As the tournament approaches, expectations rise for both Spain and Italy. The dynamics surrounding Nadal's potential retirement may influence fan engagement and media coverage leading into the matches.
Despite the absence of Zverev, the Davis Cup Final 8 promises to be competitive, with narratives surrounding Nadal's health and potential retirement adding intrigue. Fans should prepare for thrilling matches and pivotal moments as the tournament unfolds.
