The Davis Cup weekend delivered a whirlwind of excitement as the final eight teams were confirmed for the prestigious tournament, set to unfold in Bologna from November 18 to 23. Among the noteworthy results, Great Britain earned its place in next year’s qualifiers, potentially paving the way for a shot at the title in 2024.
This year’s finals will feature Italy, the reigning champions, alongside strong contenders Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, and Spain. While some matchups were anticipated, others generated thrilling drama, with three of the four standout ties coming down to the wire.
Belgium emerged victorious against Australia in a nail-biting 3-2 finish. Raphael Collignon showcased remarkable tenacity as he outlasted Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic with a scoreline of 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 in Sydney after the home team rallied from a two-match deficit. Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson made a memorable Davis Cup debut by defeating Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4, while Alex de Minaur secured a straight-sets win over Zizou Bergs, taking the match 6-2, 7-5.
Another shocked exit was the USA, a historical powerhouse in the Davis Cup alongside Australia, thanks to an impressive display from the Czech Republic. The Czechs triumphed 3-2 on American soil in Delray Beach. Although they initially took a 2-1 lead, the Americans briefly regained momentum until Jiri Lehecka’s exceptional victory over world No. 4 Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, leveled the score. Jakub Mensik then clinched the tie by defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4 for a well-deserved away victory.
The only tie won on home turf was Spain’s encounter with Denmark in a closely contested 3-2 finish in Marbella. Spain found themselves down 0-2 but rallied impressively, thanks in part to Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar’s resilience as they overcame August Holmgren and Johannes Ingildsen 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Martinez then triumphed over Holger Rune 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3), saving a match point along the way, while Pablo Carreno Busta sealed the tie with a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Elmer Moeller.
Other notable results included Argentina’s 3-1 victory over The Netherlands, Austria edging out Hungary 3-2, and France defeating Croatia 3-1. Germany delivered a commanding performance against Japan, winning 4-0 without dropping a set.
In the lower division, Great Britain, despite the absence of their top player Jack Draper, bested Poland with a score of 3-1. Cameron Norrie was tasked with leading the team in Galyna, Poland. He successfully provided the decisive point, defeating Olaf Pieczkowski 6-4, 6-4 to secure an unassailable lead. Norrie first defeated Tomasz Berkieta 7-6(9), 6-4, while Arthur Fery marked his debut with a solid 6-4, 6-2 win over Pieczkowski.
The British team faced a momentary setback in the doubles match, where Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool narrowly lost to the Polish duo Jan Zielinski and Karol Drzewiecki 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). Following the tie, GB captain Leon Smith praised the team’s performance and emphasized the potential for future success, particularly with Jack Draper returning to full fitness. Smith expressed confidence in their depth, sharing excitement about the prospects leading into next year’s draw.
