STARNBERG, August 17, 2026

Rafael Jodar, Daniel Merida and Martin Landaluce will spearhead a new-look Spain team at the Davis Cup tie against Chile on September 19-20 at the Parque Estadio Nacional in Santiago. Captain David Ferrer has also called upon the experience of Jaume Munar and Pedro Martinez as Spain bids to secure a place in the Final 8 in Bologna.

“I’m very happy with the commitment all the players have shown, knowing that this will not be an easy tie, especially as they will come off several weeks of travelling and competing in the United States,” Ferrer said.

Estos son los rostros de la nueva Selección Española @GENERALI_es de Tenis para enfrentarnos a Chile en septiembre#VamosEspaña I #CopaDavis #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/Ga1VjwUeuM

— Tenis España (@RFETenis) August 17, 2026

The biggest headline is the Davis Cup debut of Rafael Jodar as Spain’s No. 1 player. The 19-year-old Madrid native has been one of the sensations of world tennis in 2026, and Ferrer admits his rapid rise has exceeded expectations.

“He was a player who showed a lot of promise, but he is now playing at an extremely high level, beating the best players in the world and with a chance of finishing in the Top 10,” Ferrer said. “I think that is something very positive for Spanish tennis.”

Jodar: “I’m really looking forward to playing”

Jodar received the call-up during Spain’s American swing and is relishing the opportunity to make his competitive debut for his country.

“It’s an incredible honour to represent the Spanish national team for the first time,” Jodar said. “I had the opportunity to be a practice partner two years ago in Valencia, and it was an amazing experience. I can only imagine how special it will be to do it as a player.”

“I’m really looking forward to playing my first Davis Cup tie. I know the matches in Chile will be very difficult, but the whole team is really excited. I’m sure all the players and the staff will give everything they have to move on to the next round.”

Merida: “Playing Davis Cup is a dream”

Daniel Merida will also make his Davis Cup debut after breaking into the world’s Top 40 at the age of 21.

“The year is going very well. I’m very motivated, playing good tournaments and looking forward to what remains of the season,” Merida said. “For me, playing Davis Cup is a dream. I watched it so many times when I was a kid, so being there with the team is honestly a dream come true.”

The Madrid trio is completed by 20-year-old Martin Landaluce, who already has Davis Cup experience. He represented Spain last season in Switzerland, where he teamed up with Munar and Martinez, both key members of the Spanish side that reached the Final 8 championship match last year.

Spain received a bye into the second round of the 2026 competition, while Chile advanced after defeating Serbia 4-0 at home.

Ferrer is well aware of the threat posed by the Chileans, led by Alejandro Tabilo.

“Chile has a very good player in Tabilo, who is already in the Top 40 and is getting very good results,” Ferrer said. “Garin hasn’t competed at his best level this year, but he is always dangerous, as are Jarry and Barrios. That’s what Davis Cup is all about: when you play for your country, players can raise their level even if they haven’t had the best season.”

Ferrer wary of passionate home crowd

Ferrer’s biggest concern, however, is not necessarily the Chilean line-up but the atmosphere Spain will face in Santiago.

“We are playing away from home, and we are conscious of that,” he said. “The crowd in Chile is very passionate, and I’m concerned about how my players will handle certain situations they may encounter that perhaps wouldn’t be normal at a regular tournament.”

The tie will mark Spain’s first visit to Chile in Davis Cup history. The two previous meetings, in 1928 and 1965, were both played in Barcelona and ended in Spanish victories.

The series will be held on the Court Central Anita Lizana in Santiago, which has a capacity of between 5,500 and 6,000 spectators. The opening two singles matches are scheduled for Saturday, September 19, from 1 p.m. local time (6 p.m. in Spain). The second day begins with the doubles at noon on Sunday, September 20, followed by the two remaining singles matches.