Even when the Davis Cup Last 8 that begins Tuesday in Bologna, Italy, is the sixth version of the staff competitors to have the champion determined at a impartial website, there are those that would like to see some extra modifications.
Maybe return to home-and-away matchups all over.
And possibly shift it from an annual contest to one thing much less frequent.
“They received to do one thing (with) this occasion, as a result of I believe taking part in yearly, I imply — it’s inferior to it is perhaps in case you’re taking part in each two or three years,” mentioned No. 1-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, the six-time Grand Slam champion who’s coming off a runner-up end to Jannik Sinner on the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday. “I believe if the event is performed, like, each two years or each three years, the gamers, the dedication of the gamers, it’s going to be much more as a result of it’s distinctive, it’s totally different. You’re not capable of play yearly.”
Alcaraz will lead Spain towards the No. 4-seeded Czech Republic within the quarterfinals on Thursday as he tries to win the Davis Cup for the primary time. Final yr, Alcaraz was a part of the squad that was eradicated within the opening spherical of the Last 8 at house in Malaga, the place Rafael Nadal performed the ultimate match of his storied profession earlier than retiring.
“I actually wish to win the Davis Cup sooner or later,” the 22-year-old Alcaraz mentioned, “as a result of for me, it’s a very vital, vital event.”
Sinner led Italy to 2 consecutive championships in 2023 and 2024, however he determined to sit down out the Davis Cup this time round. So did his countryman, Lorenzo Musetti, who additionally participated within the ATP Finals final week.
Sinner, who received two of his 4 Grand Slam titles this season and was the runner-up to Alcaraz on the different two majors in 2025, joined his rival in advocating for switching issues up with the Davis Cup.
Possibly, Sinner advised, it could possibly be unfold out over two years, together with staging the semifinals early within the second season of the cycle and the ultimate on the finish of that season.
That, he surmised, would make it “even greater.”
“I by no means, sadly, performed the Davis Cup, the ‘actual’ Davis Cup, the place it’s … taking part in in Argentina or in Brazil, the place you have got the entire stadium … for the opposite staff,” Sinner mentioned. “I believe that is Davis Cup, you understand?”
Rely Pierre-Hugues Herbert, a 34-year-old Frenchman who helped his nation win the Davis Cup earlier than a house crowd at Lille in 2017, was one other participant who want to see every of the closing rounds be performed at one of many nations concerned.
“The brand new format has been a bit difficult for us in France, I believe, particularly for me,” mentioned Herbert, who owns a profession Grand Slam in doubles, “as a result of I felt like one thing a bit died on this competitors.”
This week’s finals will start with No. 3 seed France taking over Belgium on Tuesday. Then No. 1 Italy — whose roster consists of Flavio Cobolli, Lorenzo Sonego and 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini — will face Austria on Wednesday, earlier than the final two quarterfinals are held on Thursday, together with No. 2 Germany and Alexander Zverev towards Argentina.
One semifinal shall be performed on Friday, and the opposite on Saturday, earlier than the champion is set on Sunday.
Alcaraz and Spain have a tricky activity, going up towards a Czech staff that features a pair of top-20 gamers in Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik and eradicated the US within the qualifying spherical in September.
“Profitable towards them,” mentioned Mensik, a 20-year-old who’s the youngest participant on the Last 8, “brings us a whole lot of confidence into the Last 8.”
