WASHINGTON, September 17, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
It’s been less than a week since Alexander Zverev beat Ben Shelton to win the US Open title and to secure his second major crown. However, there’s no rest for either Top-5 player. That’s because Zverev will anchor Germany’s Davis Cup by Generali lineup against Croatia at Halle, while Shelton will play No. 1 singles for the Americans against Czechia at Prague.
Starting Friday, 14 nations will contest the Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round, bidding to advance to the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna in November.
The seven winning nations from the Qualifiers Second Round will be joined by three-time Davis Cup defending champions and host Italy at the Final 8.
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This weekend, ties will be played as best-of-5 matches spread over two days. They include: Chile vs. Spain, Germany vs. Croatia, Great Britain vs. Ecuador, Austria vs. Belgium, South Korea vs. India, Czechia vs. the United States and Canada vs. France.
On the first day, the home nation’s No. 1 player will play the away nation’s No. 2 player and vice versa.
On the second day, the doubles match will be played first, followed by the home nation’s No. 1 against the away nation’s No. 1 player, then home nation’s No. 2 player against the away nation’s No. 2 player.
All live matches are played as best-of-3 tie-break sets.
The seven losing nations in the Qualifiers Second Round this weekend will compete in the 2027 Qualifiers First Round along the winning nations in this weekend’s World Group I ties.
Here’s a preview of the Seven Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round ties:
• Chile vs. Spain (Sat.-Sun.) at Parque Deportivo Estadio National, Santiago, on outdoor clay. It’s a third Davis Cup meeting for Chile and Spain, but their first one in 61 years and their first in Chile. Spain won both previous meetings on clay in Barcelona.
Chile are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the fourth time. Led by Alejandro Tabilo and Cristian Garin, the Chileans are also bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. Meanwhile, Rafael Jodar and Daniel Merida lead the Spaniards, who are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the seventh time and to maintain their record of always reaching the Finals since its introduction in 2019. They are also bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year.
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• Germany vs. Croatia (Sat.-Sun) at Heristo Arena, Halle, on indoor hard court. This is the fifth Davis Cup meeting for Germany and Croatia, but their first in 15 years. All four previous meetings came at the World Group first round stage, with three of the four meetings coming on indoor hard courts. Germany have won all three previous meetings on indoor hard courts.
Germany are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the sixth time. With a line-up that boasts World No. 2 Alexander Zverev and the doubles pair of US Open finalists Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, Germany are also bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year and for the seventh time in the last eight Davis Cup seasons. Meanwhile, Croatia are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the fifth time – and for the first time since 2023. Dino Prizmic, who was an ATP NextGen Finals competitor last year, and veteran doubles pair Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic lead the Croatians.
US Open champion Alexander Zverev’s back on home turf 🇩🇪
Ready to lead Germany’s team against Croatia in Halle. pic.twitter.com/qSVBna4bVm
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 17, 2026
• Great Britain vs. Ecuador (Sat.-Sun) at Copper Box Arena, London, on indoor hard court. This marks the third Davis Cup meeting for Great Britain and Ecuador. Both previous meetings came in the World Group qualifying round in back-to-back years in 2000-2001, with the away team winning on both occasions.
Great Britain, captained by Leon Smith – who has led the British team since 2010 and has a 29-13 win-loss record as captain and led Great Britain to their 10th Davis Cup title in 2015 – are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the sixth time. Anchored by Wimbledon semifinalist Arthur Fery and Cameron Norrie, the British also looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2023. Meanwhile, Ecuador are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for just the second time, after reaching the Finals for the first time in 2021. They are also looking to reach the quarterfinals for the second time and equal their best Davis Cup performance.
Back with the team 🇬🇧
Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery returns to action for Great Britain for their Qualifiers Second Round tie against Ecuador. pic.twitter.com/h8Wat555QU
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 16, 2026
• Austria vs. Belgium (Fri.-Sat.) at Wiener Athletic Club, Vienna, on outdoor clay. It’s a sixth Davis Cup meeting for Austria and Belgium. The two nations were due to contest a semifinal tie in the fourth edition of the competition in 1904, before Austria gave a walkover. Austria have since won all five meetings between the two nations, including both previous meetings in Austria – in Vienna in 1936 and in Pörtschach in 2003.
Austria are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the second consecutive year and the third time overall. The Austrians, led by Jurij Rodionov and Joel Schwaerzler, are also bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Belgians, led by Zizou Bergs, are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the fifth time. They are also looking to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year despite being with Alexander Blockx and Raphael Collignon and inserting Gauthier Onclin, who will make his Davis Cup debut.
“We’re going to fight like crazy; for a small country like Belgium, achieving that would be amazing, though there’s still a long way to go,” Belgium captain Steve Darcis told the Davis Cup website. “Right now, we just want to focus on this tie.”
• South Korea vs. India (Fri.-Sat.) at Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center, Seoul, on outdoor hard court. This is the 12th meeting for the two countries but their first in 10 years. The winner of this tie will become the first Asian nation to reach the quarterfinals since the introduction of the Final 8 in 2022 – and the first since Kazakhstan in 2021.
Kwon Soonwoo and South Korea are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the third time. They are also looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in competition history. Meanwhile, India in back of Sumit Nagel are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the first time. They also hope to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1996.
“It’s always a special feeling when you step on the court and play in the national jersey,” Nagel told the Davis Cup website. “It brings a lot of pressure but joy as well, a lot of emotions. And that’s a feeling not everyone gets to live through. I’m super lucky to have experienced it.”
• Czechia vs. United States (Fri.-Sat.) at the O2 Arena, Prague, on indoor hard court. It’s an eighth Davis Cup meeting between Czechia and the U.S. – and the 2nd in the Qualifiers Second Round in consecutive years. Their meeting at this stage last year was the nations’ first Davis Cup meeting for 18 years. Their first six meetings in the competition spanned 16 years from 1981 to 2007.
After the United States won their first three meetings, the two nations have split their four most-recent meetings since 1996. This is the fourth meeting between the U.S. and Czechia on hard courts, with all three previous meetings on hard courts taking place in the United States. The Americans lead the head-to-head on hard courts 2-1.
The Czechs, in back of Top-25 stars Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka, are bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the fourth consecutive year and the fifth time overall. They are also attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in four years, having reached the last eight in 2023 as well as last year. Meanwhile, Team USA are striving to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the sixth time – and for the first time since 2024. Prior to 2025, they reached all five editions of the Finals from 2019 to 2024. Against the Czechs, the Americans will line up with Ben Shelton and Learner Tien at singles.
“I have never been part of a Davis Cup team before – this is my first time – and it’s great, the camaraderie is great,” Tien said during his team’s pre-tie news conference. “A couple of guys are coming off pretty deep runs at the US Open and the team energy is right there. It has been great so far.”
US Open Final ➡️ Davis Cup
Ben Shelton has arrived in Prague to lead USA’s team against Czechia in the Qualifiers Second Round. pic.twitter.com/MPobdWG2id
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 16, 2026
• Canada vs. France (Fri.-Sat.) at Videotron Center, Quebec City, on indoor hard court. It’s a fourth meeting between Canada and France, and their first for 10 years. France have won all three previous meetings, winning 14 of the 15 matches played across those ties. France won 4-1 in their only previous meeting both on indoor hard courts and in Canada.
With Felix Auger-Aliassime anchoring the Canadian line up, Canada is bidding to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the sixth time – and for the first time since 2024. Prior to 2025, they reached the Finals in all five seasons from 2019 to 2024. Meanwhile, Arthur Rinderknech will lead a French team that is looking to reach the Davis Cup Finals for the seventh time and maintain their record of always reaching the Finals since its introduction in 2019. They are also attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, after reaching to the last eight for the first time since 2018 last year.
Noteworthy
Eleven players are looking to make their Davis Cup debuts this week: Duncan Chan (Canada), Manas Dhamne (India), Rafael Jodar (Spain), Daniel Merida (Spain), Neil Oberleitner (Austria), Gauthier Onclin (Belgium), Keegan Rice (Canada), Toby Samuel (Great Britain), Joel Schwaerzler (Austria), Learner Tien (USA) and Angel Veliz (Ecuador).
“Quotable …”
“They have a very, very good man at the helm. As captain, Jurgen has a great understanding of the game, both in singles and doubles. That’s a key factor.
“On top of that, they have very good players – some have been in the Top 100, others will be. They share a fantastic team spirit and give it their all during Davis Cup week. It’s well known that rankings don’t always tell the whole story in the Davis Cup. Other things matter, too – fighting spirit, commitment to your country, team spirit – and Austria has that.”
– Steve Darcis, Belgium team captain, on opponent Austria and Austrian team captain Jurgen Melzer, as told to the Davis Cup website.
