Nadal, Alcaraz, and Sinner Lead Star-Studded Davis Cup Finals Teams

Spain has included 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in their five-member Davis Cup team, announced on Monday. World number one, Jannik Sinner from Italy, will also participate in the final eight of the tournament in Malaga. Nadal, now 38, has recently withdrawn from the US Open and Laver Cup due to ongoing injury and fitness challenges, and has only played in one of the last seven Grand Slam tournaments.

Alcaraz, who has won the French Open and Wimbledon this year, will be the main player for Spain as they aim to claim the Davis Cup, known as the “World Cup of tennis,” for the first time since 2019. Their campaign begins with a match against the Netherlands.

Alcaraz also played a vital role in Team Europe’s Laver Cup victory over Team World in Berlin last weekend. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, who has won the US Open and Australian Open, will lead Italy’s team in the finals, starting on November 19. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Italy’s success last year, defeating Serbian star Novak Djokovic twice in a single day—once in singles and then in doubles during the semi-finals.

Italy will face Argentina in the quarter-finals, hoping to defend their 2023 Davis Cup title, which they secured by beating Australia. Last year’s victory marked Italy’s first Davis Cup triumph since 1976.