The Davis Cup draw has been made: David Ferrer’s brave bet for the singles
The Spanish captain, David Ferrerhas opted for two debutants in the Davis Cup to face the singles in this weekend’s eliminatory in Chiliwhich is still a brave decision taking into account the particularities of this competition: Spain will search on clay for a place in the Bologna Finals (Italy, November 24-29).
Ferrer trusts in the year of emergence of Rafa Jodar19 years old and world No. 14, and Dani Merida21st and 41st in the ranking, to line up the two Madrid tennis players in the ‘singles’. After the draw held in Santiago de ChileMérida will open the tie against the local No. 1 on Saturday (6:00 p.m.), Alejandro Tabilo (28th), and Jódar will next face Cristian Garin (133º). The Chilean captain, Nicolas Massuhas used its two most experienced players.
For Sunday (5:00 p.m.), Pedro Martínez-Jaume Munar is the initial partner of David Ferrer, while Tabilo will form the Chilean partner with Tomas Barrios Vera. Tabilo-Jódar and Garín-Mérida They are the other two planned individuals, although the captains have the power to make changes if they consider it appropriate.
In the scheduled singles, there are only precedents between Jódar and Tabilo, with 2-1 in favor of the Madrid native in their three matches, all this season on hard courts: victory for the Chilean in Indian Wells (6-1, 6-2) and revenge for the Spanish in Washington (6-7, 6-4, 6-4) and, the most recent, in Cincinnati (6-2, 6-1).
Absent Carlos Alcaraz, Rafa Jodar He will serve as the Spanish No. 1 in Chile, a new challenge for the great revelation of the tennis season, with the Madrid-born architect of a meteoric rise in the ranking: he began 2026 at No. 165 and is already on the verge of the world top-10 (14th) after eight full months for a debutant on the ATP circuit.
In fact, in the year’s ranking, Rafa occupies 9th place and, therefore, has in his power to qualify for the ATP Finals that will bring together the eight best of the season in Turin.
Jódar already premiered his record in Marrakesh and has obtained other excellent results that have made him the biggest emerging star on the circuit, even ahead of the Brazilian Joao Fonsecaconsidered until now as the leader of his generation to discuss in the future the current supremacy of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
