Sinner calling for a “real Davis Cup”, top players asking for massive changes in Turin
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have both called for a renewal of the current Davis Cup system, advocating for a return to the traditional home-and-away format and suggesting the competition should be held every two years instead of annually.
Jannik Sinner and the Davis Cup, 2024 | © Zuma / PsNews
Turin is only 330 kilometers from Bologna, where the Davis Cup will begin next week with Italy as the defending champion. Yet, despite all the efforts to refine the competition’s format, a new threshold has been reached this week at the ATP Finals. The top players are sending a clear message to the ITF and all stakeholders: make it different, make it rarer, or don’t ask us to play it.
It remains unclear if Jannik Sinner fully realized the weight of his words when he mentioned the need to return to the “real Davis Cup,” hinting that perhaps the current version is like a false one, the one he has won in 2023 and 2024.
“If you play in Bologna, and there is the matchup Australia against the USA, of course there are going to be spectators. I’m not saying the contrary. But at the same time, why not making it a real Davis Cup competition?” Sinner asked. “I never unfortunately played the Davis Cup, the real Davis Cup, where it’s away, playing in Argentina or in Brazil where you have the whole stadium not against you but for the other team. I think this is Davis Cup, you know?”
In Bologna, one home team, seven others
What Sinner refers to as the “real Davis Cup” is the traditional away rule, which allows teams to play on each other’s home ground, creating a rare and electric atmosphere around tennis courts, a system that was the only one til 2018. Although this system has been reintroduced in the round-robin phase, it still does not apply to the final rounds.
This year the 2025 Davis Cup Finals, also known as the Final 8, will take place from November 18 to 23, 2025, at the Super Tennis Arena (BolognaFiere) in Bologna, Italy, on indoor hard courts. The quarterfinals are scheduled as follows between the eight finalists :
- November 18: France vs Belgium
- November 19: Italy vs Austria
- November 20: Spain vs Czech Republic
- November 20: Argentina vs Germany
The crisis can no longer be hidden. Weeks ago, Sinner announced he would not play the 2025 edition, and now Lorenzo Musetti, the second Italian player, has taken the same decision after two weeks of intense tennis to qualify for the ATP Finals.
Playing with this schedule, Davis Cup, it’s difficult
“Playing with this schedule, Davis Cup, it’s difficult that you have every year from every country the best players in the world,” Sinner stated. He suggested a biennial format, arguing it would allow for bigger matches and more meaningful venues. “I would like it in two years, that one competition goes in two years, so you can set up big matches with great venues. It makes it even bigger.”
Alcaraz was the first to share these sentiments the day before, praising the spirit of representing one’s country but admitting the current format needs change. “I think the Davis Cup is one of those tournaments that you’re not used to feel and play because you’re playing for your country, you’re playing with your teammates. It’s totally different,” Alcaraz said.
They got to do something with this event, because I think playing every year, it is not as good as it might be if you’re playing every two or three years.
“I agree that they got to do something with this event, because I think playing every year, it is not as good as it might be if you’re playing every two or three years.” He believes a less frequent schedule would boost player commitment and make the event more unique. “The players, the commitment of the players, it’s going to be even more because it’s unique, it’s different,” Alcaraz noted.
Alcaraz still commtted
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is still committed to playing the competition, one year after failing to win the trophy for Rafa Nadal’s farewell.
Earlier this year, Jack Draper, Britain’s No. 1, publicly defended Jannik Sinner’s decision to skip the 2025 Davis Cup. Speaking to The Tennis Podcast, Draper said: “He’s [Jannik Sinner’s] probably thinking, ‘I’ve won Davis Cup twice. This year I’ve had a long year, I’ve had to deal with a lot of [things], I’ve done well in the Grand Slams, and I want to do a better pre-season, I want to improve as a player, I want to refresh.’” That’s obviously every top player’s mindset now.
