The 2024 Davis Cup Qualifiers will be held in the middle of September, and Germany won’t have Alexander Zverev playing.
Zverev and the Davis Cup have always been an odd story because the German is among the many players who are highly critical of this new format. He’s not a fan of it; he has been on record calling it a ‘not true’ version of the Davis Cup because of the lack of atmosphere for which the competition was known.
He has played in the competition, but his participation has been highly situational. Sometimes, he plays for Germany, maybe also to fulfill quotas for the Olympic Games, sometimes, he doesn’t, and this time, he won’t.
Per the event announcement, the German team won’t feature Zverev, as Jan-Lennard Struff, Dominik Koepfer, and doubles specialists Kewin Krawietz and Tim Puetz will lead the country.
One reason Zverev might not play is the timing of the competition. It’s in a tricky spot in the calendar midway through September, running from 10th to 15th, situated immediately after the US Open.
It’s not unheard of that many players skip these Qualifiers, especially if they have a deep run at the US Open. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean and playing with little rest is not a smart idea, and most players don’t do so.
Another reason that might have impacted Zverev’s decision is the Laver Cup, which is also situated close to this competition. It will be played from September 20th to 22nd, and it will be played in Berlin with Zverev attending as the main star for the home crowd.
Having the Davis Cup Qualifiers between the US Open and the Laver Cup likely diminished his chances of playing. It was probably a smart decision for Zverev because the German team is still strong enough to qualify even without him, and he may then join the team for the Davis Cup Finals later in the year.
