Davis Cup: These 16 teams play for the title
The "Qualifiers" in the Davis Cup have been beaten, now the question arises: Where will the four intermediate rounds be held in September?
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Feb 06, 2023, 10:28 am
Anyone who has wondered where Carlos Alcaraz, Félix Auger-Aliassime or Jannik Sinner were on this Davis Cup weekend should be reminded that four teams received a wildcard for the intermediate round before the start of the 2023 season. Namely the defending champions from Canada, last year's finalist Australia as well as Spain and Italy.
In addition, there are now the twelve winning nations from the qualifiers - which unfortunately neither include Germany nor Austria. Instead, the Swiss and Croatians made it in said duels. In addition, in more or less exciting duels Great Britain, South Korea, Finland, Chile, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the USA, Serbia and France.
Germany and Austria have to be relegated
Which now raises the question of who will hold one of the four intermediate rounds from September 11th to 16th. Last year the games were played in Glasgow, Valencia, Bologna and Hamburg. It is quite possible that the British, Italian and Spanish tennis federations will raise their hands again. Germany is out this time. Will Switzerland go into the Bütt as the organizer? Swiss journalists in Trier have not yet been able to answer questions in this direction.
For the teams of captains Michael Kohlmann and Jürgen Melzer there is now another Davis Cup round in September based on the old style. In a classic international match, one of the nations that prevailed in the playoff games of World Group 1 is at stake for remaining in the top division of the Davis Cup.