ITF

ITF World Summer 2022 9 DAVIS CUP FINALS help the players prepare, is huge for us. We've got more players doing really good things on the main tour. Winding back the clock several years it wasn't like that, but now we've got more strength in depth across both singles and doubles." Founder nations Great Britain and USA are set for their 21st showdown of their 122-year- old rivalry, with Netherlands and Kazakhstan rounding out the group. Paul Haarhuis's Dutch side arguably represent the biggest unknown, with young talents Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor joined by Matwe Middelkoop and Tim van Rijthoven, whose spellbinding grass court season saw him beat Daniil Medvedev en route to his first ATP title before a run to the last 16 at Wimbledon. It's a similar story for Davis Cup stalwarts France, with Sebastien Grosjean's Bleus much changed since their last final appearance in 2018. Nicolas Mahut is the one player in Group Follow all the action at www.daviscup.com C L I C K H E R E FO R M O R E contention for a singles berth alongside the nation's No. 1, Alex De Minaur. "We fought through a really tough qualifying match back in March against Hungary which has now given us this opportunity to build on," said Hewitt. "The boys understand what's at stake. The group stage is always extra tough, but our goal is to certainly qualify for the quarter-finals." Sixteen teams will head to the courts on 13 September with that shared vision; six days and 24 ties later, eight will remain in the hunt for the singular title of Davis Cup World Champions. The journey to Malaga resumes this month; whatever twists and turns await, we'll be watching. n C to have lifted the Davis Cup, the evergreen 40-year-old winning the 2017 title before his three teammates – Adrian Mannarino, Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Rinderknech – had made their competition debuts. "Benjamin has earned his place," said Grosjean, who is focused on conditions and form. "He has been very solid since the start of the season and is part of the Top 50. Arthur likes fast indoor surfaces and can play singles and doubles – he was with the team in Austria last year, and Pau during the Qualifiers. Adrian is now an important element in the team, and he loves hard courts." Australia captain and two-time Davis Cup winner Lleyton Hewitt will no doubt be buoyed by the ability to name three current Grand Slam doubles champions to his team in Thanasi Kokkinakis – champion at the Australian Open with Nick Kyrgios – and Wimbledon champs Matt Ebden and Max Purcell, each in

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