ITF

DAVIS CUP BY RAKUTEN MADRID FINALS 24 Spring 2020 ITF World Whether tipped to be among the favourites, contenders should stars align or rank outsiders, the 18 nations battling for supremacy at this year's Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals can start to plot their course to world champion status. March's draw for the second edition of the global extravaganza at Caja Magica in Madrid, which is set to take place from 23-29 November, has revealed the pathway to silverware for competing teams. As in 2019, the 18 nations have been divided into six groups of three teams. The six group winners and two best-performing runners-up, based on sets and games won, will advance to the knockout phase of the competition. "We enjoyed a superb inaugural year at the Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals in 2019, with some of the world's best players contesting thrilling matches in front of passionate fans," said ITF President David Haggerty. "The draw for the 2020 Finals has produced some exciting match-ups, and we are already looking forward to some superb Davis Cup action in November." The draw, which was held at the ITF offices in London, has undoubtedly thrown up some intriguing ties, while the possibility arises for world No. 1 Novak Djokovic to go head-to-head with two fellow Top 10 players. A couple of group-stage rematches from 2019 are also on the cards. With Serbia drawn against Austria and Germany in Group F, there is the potential for singles clashes between Djokovic and Austria's world No. 3 Dominic Thiem and world No. 7 Alexander Zverev of Germany. Time will tell whether that triumvirate do draw swords. But even without Thiem, Dennis Novak showed that he and Austria can still be a handful as his victories over Martin and Pablo Cuevas paved the way for his nation's triumph over Uruguay in the qualification round. Germany, meanwhile, who were quarter-finalists in 2019, have tried and tested singles players among their ranks and one of the finest doubles pairings – Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies – on the planet. Hosts, defending champions and top seeds Spain will be one of the teams facing familiar foes in the form of Russia, who were drawn in Group A alongside Rafael Nadal's outfit for the second successive year. Spain were undoubtedly the team everyone else was hoping to avoid. Sergi Bruguera's men were undefeated on home soil last year, with world No. 2 Nadal extending his incredible Davis Cup record to 29 straight singles wins dating back to 2004. With singles support from world No. 12 Roberto Bautista Agut and No. 25 Pablo Carreno Busta, five- time competition winners Spain are a formidable unit. That said, Russia will no doubt make their presence felt. Shamil Tarpischev's side have three players ranked inside the Top 15: No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, No. 14 Andrey Rublev and No. 15 Karen Khachanov. Even without their No. 1, the Russians made the semi-finals in 2019 following a thrilling last-eight victory over Serbia. Both Spain and Russia will have an eye on qualifying for the knockout phase of the competition as also drawn in their pool are Ecuador, the lowest-ranked side competing at the Finals. However, despite their lowly ranking status, it would perhaps be foolish to underestimate Ecuador after they stunned Japan on home soil in the qualifiers on an indoor hard court. USA and Italy, who famously experienced a late finish in Madrid in 2019, are the other nations set to meet again in the early stages after being paired together in Group E alongside Alejandro Falla's Colombia. The North Americans have eight players ranked inside the Top 100 and, with the N E X T S T O P M A DR I D likes of Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka and Tommy Paul all aged 22, the future would appear bright. Italy, however, who found themselves in a desperately difficult group in 2019 alongside Canada and USA, have all the hallmarks of being a real handful with Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini in singles and strong combinations in doubles. Colombia, meanwhile, will always be a dangerous proposition should they produce in the singles, given they boast the best doubles duo in the world in the shape of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah. In Group B, Canada, runners-up in 2019 following defeat to Spain in the final, have been pitted against Kazakhstan and Sweden. By having three Top 30 singles players – Denis Shapovalov, Felix Auger- Aliassime and Milos Raonic – in their ranks, and Vasek Pospisil proving how devastating he can be in The identities of the 18 nations to compete at the Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals 2020 are known, as is the route they will have to take to be crowned champions Italy 4-0 Korea, Rep.

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