Held in various formats since 1900, the 2022 Davis Cup is well underway. Unlike most tennis tournaments, in the Davis Cup, the players represent their home countries and compete as a team. The Davis Cup involves men’s singles, and doubles matches played in a group stage, with the top teams from each group moving on to the finals.
Ahead of this year’s finals, here is a look at how the competition has unfolded to date and at the ones to watch in the knock-out stages, after which one nation will emerge the winner.
Group stage
Prior to the group stage, there were two world groups, out of which emerged 12 qualifiers. These teams were joined by two wild cards (Great Britain and Canada) plus the losing 2021 finalist Croatia and the losing semi-finalist Serbia. The 2021 winner, the Russian Tennis Federation, was prohibited from competing.
The group stages of the Davis Cup were held across four European cities in September. Four teams competed in each of the four groups, with the top two advancing to the knock-out stage.
Surprises included the Netherlands topping its group, ahead of the USA in second place and at the expense of Great Britain, which was eliminated. This stage also saw the departure of France and Argentina, as well as Serbia, which was without Novak Djokovic.
Knock-out stages
The knock-out phase of the Davis Cup in Malaga in November starts with the final eight stage. This round features some interesting tie-ups.
Italy vs. USA: This could be the match-up of the round, with two strong teams that feature some of the world’s best players. Italy’s line-up includes top 20 players Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner, while the USA has top 10 player Taylor Fritz, alongside Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and doubles specialist Jack Sock.
Germany vs. Canada: While the Germans have fielded a strong team that includes Oscar Otte and Jan-Lennard Struff, the Canadians have two heavy hitters, with top 10 player and season stand-out Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. Both teams will be keen to advance in the contest, with Germany the last winning in 1993 and Canada finishing as runner-up in 2019.
Australia vs. Netherlands: The Dutch team might be on course to keep its impressive 2022 Davis Cup run going after its success in the group stage. The team, which includes Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor, will certainly be a match for Australia. However, Australia is the second most successful Davis Cup team of all time, and its 2022 line-up is headed by Alex de Minaur.
Croatia vs. Spain: This tie-up has the potential for an upset, with the Croatians fielding a team that includes Marin Cilic and Borna Coric, as well as former world doubles number ones Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic. However, Spain has one of the strongest line-ups of all the remaining teams, with Carlos Alcaraz, Pablo Carreño Busta, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Marcel Granollers.
The winning teams from each of these match-ups will advance to the semi-finals. The finalists will then compete for the trophy on 27 November.
If you’re planning any tennis bitcoin or cash betting on this year’s Davis Cup or just want to enjoy the action, you’ve hopefully got an idea of the teams which are the main contenders to pick up the coveted trophy.
