ITF Press Release, March 12, 2020
The ITF and Kosmos Tennis have announced the draw for the Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals 2020, which was made this afternoon at the ITF offices in London.
The second edition of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals will take place at La Caja Magica on 23-29 November, with 18 teams competing over the course of one week to win the famous Davis Cup trophy and be crowned World Champions.
Confirmation of the groups in full:
Group A: Spain (1), Russia, Ecuador
Group B: Canada (2), Kazakhstan, Sweden
Group C: France (3), Great Britain, Czech Republic
Group D: Croatia (4), Australia, Hungary
Group E: USA (5), Italy, Colombia
Group F: Serbia (6), Germany, Austria
As in 2019, the 18 nations are divided into six groups of three teams. The six group winners and two best-performing group runners-up will advance to the knockout phase of the competition.
The Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals official draw has been completed#DavisCupFinals #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/ufQcZzsP5C
— Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals (@DavisCupFinals) March 12, 2020
Spain, as 2019 champions, are seeded No 1, and Canada, as 2019 runners-up, are seeded No. 2. The remaining seeds are based on the latest Davis Cup Nations Ranking. The 12 remaining nations were divided into two pots according to their ranking, and drawn randomly into each group.
Defending champions Spain have been drawn in Group A with Russia – whom they defeated 2-1 in the group stages at the Finals last year – and Ecuador, who stunned Japan in the Qualifiers in Miki last weekend to reach the Finals for the first time.
Last year’s runners-up, Canada, will compete in Group B, alongside Kazakhstan and Sweden. USA, the most-successful nation in Davis Cup history, will face a re-match with Italy in Group E after the two teams also met in Madrid last year, with Colombia completing that group. Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Croatia will take on Australia and Hungary in Group D.
Other notable match-ups include France and Great Britain – both 10-time Davis Cup champions – competing in Group C alongside Czech Republic, while Group F is the other group to feature an all-European line-up with sixth-seeded Serbia to play Germany and Austria.
The draw for the knockout stage has also been made. The teams finishing in first place in Groups A and B will face the two best-performing group runners-up, with the winner of Group C to play the winner of Group F, and the winner of Group D up against the winner of Group E.
Quarterfinals
Winner Group A v Best/2nd-best runner-up*
Winner Group C v Winner Group F
Winner Group E v Winner Group D
Best/2nd-best runner-up* v Winner Group B
*The best-performing group runners-up will be drawn after the group stages in Madrid. Should either of the best runners-up come from Group A or Group B, they will play the team they have not already faced in the competition (for example, a best runner-up from Group B will face the winner of Group A).
David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “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. Today’s draw has produced some exciting match-ups, and we are already looking forward to more superb Davis Cup action in November.”
Albert Costa, Tournament Director, said: “The Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals will see some great group stage matches, with Spain facing Russia again in Group A, and three multiple Davis Cup champions – France, Great Britain and Czech Republic – all drawn together in Group C. Group F looks particularly strong with Serbia, Germany and Austria.
“Whoever they support, tennis fans can be certain that every player at the Finals will compete with passion and emotion. We will again have the world’s best players in Madrid, and as an organisation we are working hard to make sure that teams and fans have a great experience.”
Play begins in Madrid on Monday 23 November 2020. Tickets will be on sale at DavisCupFinals.com.
