This is how the Final 8 of the Davis Cup looks like after the blow by Spain and the drama of favorites
Jannik Sinner He has started training in the hope of reappearing on the Asian tour in a couple of weeks. The great absentee from the US Open takes a glance at the qualifying rounds that will finish designing the Final 8 of the Davis Cup, which for the second consecutive edition will be held in Bolognafrom November 24 to 29.
The world number one could reconvert the forced period of absence to reconsider the conclusion of the season, although it is not certain that he will go to defend a ‘silver salad bowl’ that his country has won three consecutive years, the last one without the need for his leadership.
Italy achieved direct qualification as current champion, it has not had to go through the two sieves that the rest of the teams have gone through. Except for Spain, which escaped the February one by virtue of its place as the last finalist.
The team he captains David Ferrer is on the verge of returning to the big event, in the hope that Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers Yes, they are ready, not like in Santiago de Chile. They didn’t miss them, Dani Mérida and Rafa Jódar They made spectacular debuts.
Mérida submitted the always tough lefty to crack Alejandro Tabilo5-7, 6-3 and 6-3, Jódar excelled on the clay with a blow to Cristian Garin6-0 and 6-2. Spain is one point away from the classification, with three options this Sunday. The first, in the doubles with Pedro Martínez and Jaume Munar.
From Hispanic youth hope to the drama of the United States. Without the experience of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paulthe new generation was shipwrecked on the dangerous visit to Prague. One of the favorites for the ‘salad bowl’ had to be left out, a country that had been excited about the US Open did.
At the moment of truth, Ben Shelton23 years old and number 4, has been the great loser. In New York, at the hands of the German Alexander Zverev. In Davis, three singles and one doubles in his record, all defeats. Also in the defeat in the Czech Republic, 3-2: they gave in to Jiri Lehecka by 6-4 and 6-4, he also failed to finish against Jakub Mensik5-7, 6-4 and 6-3. He handed over responsibility to Learner Tienwho couldn’t beat Lehecka, 6-3 and 7-5.
Like Shelton, too Zverev He responded to the call of his national team without resting. He complied, but his desire to one day win the Davis Cup does not depend on him alone. They ended Saturday with a disturbing 1-1 against Croatia. After his victory over Matej Dodig, 6-4 and 7-6 (3), the defeat of Daniel Altmaier against Dino Prizmic, 6-4 and 6-3. The doubles, for specialists, will mark Sascha’s roadmap: Krawietz/Puetz vs. Mektic/Pavic.
If Chile-Spain or Czechia-USA deserved to be considered top-level qualifiers, South Korea-India (3-1) lowered the performance, although it allowed Asia to be represented in Bologna. The Austria-Belgium match, 3-1, didn’t help much either. The Belgians paid the casualties.
Felix Auger-Aliassime he took command in Quebec, in Canada’s victory over France, 3-1. He lost the doubles, but finished individually by coming back against Atrthur Rinderknech, 4-6, 7-6 (5) and 6-4 in 2h.21′. Great Britain took the lead against a weak Ecuador, 2-0
At the moment they already have a place in the quarterfinals Italy, Czechia, Canada, South Korea and Austria. Three of the main candidates and a couple of ‘sweet experts’ facing the crossroads.
