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Hello and welcome to the tennis podcast on Davis Cup Finals preview day. The Davis Cup Finals gets underway in earnest. We embark upon our two days of overlapping events, the Davis Cup Finals with the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Quite frankly, an entirely separate third event, which is the retirement of Raffa on the dial. That is what it feels like here. There are three overlapping major tennis events happening at the same time.
It's a great experience, and I'm glad I'm not in the middle of the day. There's no power in all sorts going on. It's absolutely delightful out here now, so I'm glad I've swond in when I have David and Solly Hall. Hello, David. Hello, well, it's not delightful here, but it's also not flooded, so I really can't complain, but it's going to get cold very cold. Hopefully, that'll be over by the time you get back.
Yes, I feel like I'm in the right place for now. It is an absolutely delightful morning here, and Matt and I have spent it getting a bus, a sort of school trip type vibe bus to an out of town resort hotel. Very nice one too.
The setting for Team Spain's pre-finals press conference, and the reason it was held at that hotel mat was it was the only place in the area with a room large enough to contain the volume of journalists and media that wanted to speak to Team Spain and one particular member of Team Spain. Yes, say, my fan had I got 95% of the questions as expected.
And yeah, it was two bus loads of press descending on this, I have to say rather lovely player hotel, and we were all sort of in a massive room, there was TV crews, lots and lots of press, and yeah, it just felt like a real moment, didn't it? It felt like a big, big moment that kind of dawned on everyone. I saw it dawning on Carlos Alcoraz in very real time, that this is the end, like this is where Final D'Hiles last week as a professional tennis player.
And you know, just naturally there's just so much interest in this story, and I think that's a really good way of putting it. It does feel like a separate event to the Davis Cup finals in many ways.
And I think the theme of the reaction to that press conference is like how compatible are those two events? Like, can you retire when you're not really properly fit in a really satisfactory way at the Davis Cup finals when you don't even know if you're going to be able to play a doubles, for example, it is a little bit awkward to be quite honest, like not knowing that we're going to have the certainty of Raffa and Adale playing. But that is a big, big element to this story.
Yeah, there's an awkwardness, David, in that lack of certainty, and there's also an awkwardness in the knowledge that if he does play, it might not be because that is the best competitive team selection. And I include doubles in that. I think it's pretty much without question that he's not the best pick in singles. Unfortunately, I think that is a fact we have to accept. And he very well might not be the best pick in doubles quite frankly.
On the basis of what we saw at the Saudi Kings, doesn't sound like from reports I've heard of his practices, he looks any different to how he looked at the Saudi Kings. It sounds potentially pretty ropey. But I don't know, is David for error or whoever is making the picks here, maybe it's Nadal, maybe it's the king of Spain, who knows who's going to end up making the final pick, but is it going to be made purely on a competitive basis?
I honestly don't know. And that's a very strange situation because Spain are contenders to win this Davis Cup. And I think that the US has a very high stakes thing to do and a very anti-Rafal Nadal thing to do. There was an interesting line from his press conference David where he was asked why now was it specifically a new injury that precipitated your decision to retire here? I realized I couldn't do this anymore at the level required to be super competitive.
And he said, I could hang on for one more year, but why? He said to say goodbye at every tournament, I don't have the ego for that. It is a great line. I don't know if he has the ego to make himself available, to put himself forward to play when he knows in his heart of hearts he's not the best choice. I don't know.
I think he doesn't have the ego and I think he respects the competition so much. He has such deep affection and affinity for the Davis Cup. I think that's why he's chosen to retire here. As we said, it's not an ideal place to retire with so much uncertainty around team selection. Maybe there's a scenario where he's picked for doubles and even if he's not the best choice, he's a good enough choice to be competitive.
That's the word that he's always going back to wanting to be competitive. I don't think he can be competitive in singles. He keeps stressing the conditions. It's never been ideal conditions for him a quick indoor hard court. Definitely not good conditions for him now. Maybe there's a scenario where he can be competitive in doubles. I'm not sure who he would play with. I think that's another decision that they'd have to make.
The King of Spain is going to be here and no joke of it is reportedly going to be here. Are they going to see Rafa and Adolf play? He said, I'll be ready to give my all even if that means giving my all on the bench. Being a supporter. That's going to be part of his role this week as well. It's fascinating. It's a little bit uncomfortable. We're at the Rafa and Adolf show here and it might not actually feature Rafa and Adolf.
It's a slightly strange situation and if it does feature Rafa and Adolf, we'll all be anxious about it because we know he's not physically there. He looked quite old and tired at that press conference didn't he? I'm sure it's been an exhausting time. He was sat next to Carlos Alcriyz. He looked David like he was having an out of body experience.
It's funny you describe Alcriyz as if it was dawning on him in real time the magnitude of what was actually happening here, the end of his hero's career. Somebody who would have been basically never present throughout his life, we sometimes talk about Matt's mortality as a tennis fan don't we? The feeling that he just doesn't know pre-federa and things like that.
I feel as though it's only dawning on me right now that this is the sort of conundrum that Ferreira faces. You two have been talking about this for weeks, months really about, well how on earth does he not pick Nadal given that you know, you've said things like his role for Rheirs is almost feels ceremonial because of course it's Nadal who will play or make the decision to play.
I'd always just sort of thought, well no I don't think that is the case. I think Ferreira will just do the job and just pick the best team and Nadal's in there and he'll either be part of it or he won't. I think when I saw the photos that you sent and posted on our Instagram of the sheer size of that room that he was in this turn out of media, the TV crews, the team lined up.
And Alcras looking kind of shaken really. I mean I still don't think he's very well but also just the fact is that it's such a big deal and we saw how affected him at the Olympics we've seen how being around Nadal's affected him generally in the past. I think it is only just occurring to me what a what an issue this is for Spain tactically. I do feel like unless something dramatic has changed I don't see Nadal being that short of it in doubles. I really don't.
I feel like he's a good he's a great volunteer. He's a very clever player. The one point that they've they've shown as a sort of example of his level. It wasn't a classic powerful ground strokes. It was more all court coverage and finishing it with the nice little angle cross courts. And I did think well you know I think I would back him to to to be unless he's hurt again or in a worse state I think he'll put up a good performance in doubles and be a good option.
So I would be okay going with that but but you are right if he doesn't get chosen and you've got all these all the ceremony around and all this excitement around what if they lose when he's on the bench. You know how much now or could that would be. And there's also the possibility Matt Matt flagged this a scenario where the tie is one or lost in the singles either way whether that goes to Spain or to or to the Netherlands who we will talk about at some point.
And they still play the doubles in order to give Nadal court time and I think more importantly give the those in the crowds and watching on TV the the moment that they've come for personally I desperately don't want that I think the reason that Nadal is chosen this tournament is because he wants a competitive retirement he could have had a ceremonial exhibition retirement anywhere.
Any time you know you could have had Federer involved in jocke you know you could have had whatever he wanted if he wanted to engineer something like that I just think that misses the point personally but I also realize they're kind of backed into a corner here with it being the Raffa on the Dahl show. So I do I think that is a real scenario if if it ends up being decided after the singles.
Yeah like everyone involved in this event is going to want Raffa on a day to take to the court at some point this week like it is going to be odd if he doesn't. And I you know David's been pretty persuasive there like I do I do see an option where he plays a competitive doubles I do I don't see a scenario where he plays a competitive singles. And I and I do see a scenario where they've won the tie against the Netherlands and it's a convenient way to get Nadal on court to play that dead doubles.
I was going to get Wesley call up on court and he can have his retirement send off as well and kind of everyone everyone's happy. No well it's up to the captains it's always so like technically that option does remain available to they both have to agree they both have to agree. Imagine that imagine a whole house.
Well and that's the thing here David like the spirit of this Dutch team led by Paul Haas who we know from the Champions Tour days Paul Haas was the man that delighted in pretty much ruining the best event on the Champions Tour in being the disruptor at the at the Royal Albert Hall didn't he.
He won the Royal Albert Hall three years in a row. I mean that he got in it the first year honestly it was invitation only for most of the time and then they then they they decided to try and make it competitive on the demands of John Mac in row and and have us sort of race and he'll race to get into the the masters at the end of the year which was the Royal Albert Hall and Paul Haas qualified and then he won it.
And then they were like we have to have him back and and what he'd want it so that's him back and then he won it again and then he won it again. Yeah I mean literally the tournament lost its broadcasting deal with with the BBC off the back of the blue. I mean he's a lovely little the poor house three feet. He's such a nice fellow poor house good player.
But he says I mean he's the exact type of character who will revel in this environment and look he will he will play the dead robber don't worry folks don't go to hunting him down he will play the dead robber if required but he will I don't want the dead robber David I'm going to hunt him down if he agrees to it but I understand why others others do. He's a nightmare for Spain in this position because he loves this stuff he's never been the favorite in a match in that way.
And look at Burtek van der Zanskull against Alkaraz in in New York like this team is comfortable with this role that they've been put in. Yeah Paul Haas gave a quote to Molly McCell we yesterday who's out here saying you know we want to we want to give Nadal a nice Adios.
That's that's the guy for our houses just just going back to the press conference a little bit in the and the magnitude of it all I was struck by a struck by how small Alkaraz felt you know what I mean like normally when you go to Alkaraz match or an Alkaraz press conference it's all about him and he's got such star power and charisma and you know everyone is drawn to him.
And yet him sitting there next to Raffa Nadal you realize like the different status that they have still in this country like Alkaraz obviously is a big deal and he's he's you know he may one day get to where Raffa Nadal is but right now like. There's just such a chasm between them and he seemed like a little boy sat there next to Raffa Nadal it was quite it was quite an extraordinary sort of impact that Nadal just had on that room and on Alkaraz who was like sitting next to him.
Yeah I think there's a lot going on with Carlos Alkaraz right now I think he's exhausted it's the end of a long emotional exhausting season I think he's still quite ill and I think this is emotionally a lot for him and he's not a compartmentalizer I think you know we we love him for that he's feeling his feelings and we're feeling them with him and he's bringing us along for the ride those are our favorite tennis players aren't they.
But I think I think he is on a journey right now and he doesn't doesn't quite I don't think he's really processing everything that's going on and I think I do think the illness isn't helping with that I mean by all accounts he was a lot better towards the end of the weekend she's in then he was at the start.
So hopefully he is on the output trajectory with that illness but he didn't look like he was breathing right to me and you know what it's like when you've got a cold and you just you do feel like your mind is separated a bit from your body and that is what he looked like to me today really sort of discombobulated from it all and you had you had Roberto Batista Ragu and Pedro Martinez on the end just staring off into the middle distance for most of it and after a while.
After about 25 minutes of not speaking they started just sort of chatting amongst themselves. Did I say anything publicly at all. There was one question in Spanish that was put to everybody so all six players spoke well everybody apart from Nadal because it was about Nadal so all five including David Ferrer spoke about Nadal and it was at that point you realised that Pedro Martinez didn't have a microphone and he had to borrow. Roberto Batista Ragu's microphone.
Yeah look it was it was a lot to take in wasn't it it wasn't it wasn't a quote first that press conference at all I don't know about the Spanish and you know a couple of good lines and insights but it definitely wasn't a quote first but it was just it was just the experience of it I think the occasion of it was a lot.
And it's always so interesting to hear Nadal talk and just the way his mind works because you think of Nadal on the tennis court and I think a lot of what people will picture is him expressing himself you know with fist pumps and with emotion like that's such a big part I think of ways connected with so many fans over the years but he doesn't really approach his life that way like he's very logical and sort of matter of fact about it and he wasn't getting it.
And he wasn't getting swept up in big emotional statements about you know like kind of the first two questions from from some British journalist we're all about like kind of how you're feeling and those were almost in a way like his worst answers I thought like it. I mean I think by contrast he is a good compartmentalizer yes he he he basically described compartmentalizing he said emotions are for the end not for now.
And then you had the conscious of Algaraz sitting next to me look like he was yeah I think emotions at the beginning. Emotions having all the emotions yeah it wasn't it wasn't. It wasn't a greatest hits of Raffa on the dial press conference David remember that one gave at the French open last year. When on the eve of the tournament and it felt like Nadal greatest hits like oh we're so we're so back with Nadal he was you know it was jokes and it was just all all the lines.
There were no funnies like no it was it was it was absolutely fine but it wasn't relaxed Nadal and maybe you wouldn't expect it to be but I think. He looked tired I thought yeah he did spin.
Yeah and you know he he he he doesn't give great emotional quotes on sort of what are you going to miss about the sport because of course he's going to miss it and he did talk about the adrenaline that he's going to miss the adrenaline rush that you just he knows he's not going to be able to replace but he also just says.
Look I've I've had a lot of injuries in my career I know what life without tennis looks like it's fine I'm going to fish a lot and beyond a yacht a lot and that's that's fine but he's not worried about staring into the black hole of retirement too much and look maybe it'll surprise him and it will be tougher than he then he thinks it will be but like he he's I do believe him when he says he's not too worried. About it and and for anyone listening who's you know.
Hearing this and thinking well maybe we're fun and I wasn't going to play I'm literally never going to see we're fun and I'll play tennis again like he kind of. Hinted that may well be something on the cards involving Federer because he was asked about whether Federer like whether he's been in touch with Federer because we know Jokavitcha said he's going to come like is Federer going to come in the way that like he was a Federer's retirement obviously at the labor car.
And he said no he hasn't been in touch with Federer but maybe Catherine you can remember the exact words that he said but it was it was kind of like I wrote them down it was kind of like we can do something together at any time and any any kind of like hinted at maybe there's going to be some kind of Federer and the doll.
Yeah there is an exhibition or an exhibition tour in the works guaranteed I'm so sure of it from that answer he said yes is my final week on professional tour but don't think it will be my last goodbye. And that was in response to a question about whether Federer is going to going to come this week so. Yeah watch this space I would say. Does anyone want to pick who's winning that time. And how? I think and who? I think Spain will win it in the singles with Bautista Agu and Alcras.
That's my best guess. So David it's Greeks poor is number one right. So Greeks poor would play Alcras and we're a bit worried about Alcras in singles because I like I am I am. Like I think his his level got better through the ATP finals but then there's also like just the whole how he's coping with the Nidal of it all could well affect his singles I think we absolutely have to be on a on alert for that and the Dutch.
You know the Dutch are good in these conditions you know Greeks poor has played well in on this sort of surface that Davis cut before. But I do back Alcras to beat him. I do is Alcras. I mean yeah he beat a top 10 player last week whilst clearly very ill so you'd have to back him to beat. I think it's going to go to the doubles. Do you think Bautista is going to win? Yeah we saw Bautista this morning. He looked unmoved by everything. I think slow heart beat.
I just think we've seen enough from both of those two to know they're dangerous and on a given day on it you know they can both play like drains as well you know so you don't know which one's going to turn up. So be honest but I get the sense that there's going to be some edge in us certainly now for Alcras and Bautista is is I think a much more reliable. You're going to get you should get a level out of him. It's whether the level can be used by the opponents.
I mean I look it's 50 50 to me as to whether it ends in the singles or goes to the doubles but I the romance in me thinks the doubles is going to happen and the dials going to play and bring it hurt and win. Yeah. And play doubles with who do you think? Well it'd be most I don't know I don't know whether they put Alcras and a dial together I'm just not sure that's the best idea. I kind of think they weren't they weren't very good at the Olympics were they? I could see that beat cool off.
They did yeah yeah. But you know that was on clay. He was getting better Alcras with every match and actually the Olympics but this very much goes against my my general policy in life which is to not read anything into the labour cut. But he did he did play a very good doubles there with rude. Your other policy though is to never write off Raffa on the dial. Is it like policies evolve? Is it like Billie Jean can cut playing the twos first and then the number one second?
Yes. That's very interesting. It's going to be fun. We will find out it is going to be fun. We will find out on Tuesday evening folks. It is the Billie Jean King Cup semi final between G.B. and Slovakia at midday local time on Tuesday and then 5 p.m. local time. Is when the Spain Netherlands last eight tie kicks off? Yeah and the team nominations come out an hour before so it will be four o'clock local time. Like football team news.
Although now in the Premier League they have started doing 75 minutes before. It has really thrown me off. Not here though. It is old school here. That's part one hopefully more of romantic David to come in potstew and three. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well with the name your price tool from Progressive you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try it at Progressive.com.
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Want to learn more? Download the full podcast polls 2024 report now at podcastpulse20204.acars.com and see how you can make your brand part of the conversation. Welcome back to the tennis podcast where we are sticking with our Davis Cup preview. Stick him with the bottom half of the draw in fact let's talk about Germany against Canada. Winner of this to take on the winner of that tie that we've been talking about between Spain and the Netherlands Germany without Alexander's Varro.
He's not big into Davis Cup as he's played the odd qualifying tie I guess as much as he needs to be eligible for the Olympics. But I don't think he's ever played a Davis Cup finals. So no Alexander's Varro for Germany we have Jan and Struff Daniel Altmaier, Janik Hamffman and then Kevin Kravitz and Tim Puetz fresh from winning the ATP finals title at the weekend and Captain Michael Coleman.
And then for Canada we have Dennis Schappervalov, Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galano, Milos Rownic and Vashek Pospisl with Captain Frank Dansevich. Interesting like Struff and Schappervalov. Do you remember they had that period where they were playing all the time and Struff generally gets the better of that match up. And then there'd be big favourites in the doubles I think to come through there.
So I guess I'm kind of backing Germany in this one but I must say Schappervalov has shown a little bit of form recently. He's won that title in Belgrade I think he's in a better place than he has been for a while and Diallo was quite impressive at the US Open. Would you expect Diallo to play second singles? Yeah I think so. I mean I don't think you're rolling Rownic out in the singles. Yeah I think it's a finalist round it. Yeah I think he's thinking about Diallo. I think Rownic.
I mean he did play singles last year. He did play singles last year. He beat you again. Beat you. Patrick Calcavalta. You'll play Milos Rownic, are you David? If you're your Frank Dansevich, David's being romantic about Milos Rownic. Right. Just on Sverve and Ojelia Seam not playing. I wonder whether there's anybody listening to this from those countries that just think that thinks that's a bit off and a bit disappointing that they haven't turned up.
I mean look Ojelia Seam won this thing pretty much single-handedly. I mean obviously Schappervalov was part of that win a couple years ago. But it was a massive moment for Ojelia Seam and I know he initially put his hand up to play this and then he's withdrawn and he's got some charitable foundation stuff that he wants to concentrate on. He says which means he's not here. Sverve just clearly, I don't know. He doesn't even pretend. He just doesn't view it as a priority at all.
He's always said he doesn't like the format. He wants the old Davis Cup. It's his excuse. And I look at, I know there are a number of players, a lot of players who wish the home and away was back. Well, next year they'll get a wish for the vast majority of it. It's home and away a couple of times a year and then the final eight. I just wonder, I don't see any dissent. I don't see any criticism. I don't see any media actually say pretty disappointing this that they haven't played.
And I've heard it for other players in other countries in the past and I think it is a bit disappointing. You're right. I would be interested to know in their local media, they have received criticism. Sverve, it doesn't shock me. It's a disappointment. I always find it disappointing when players don't put their hand up to play for their country, frankly. I am a bit shocked by Felix Orgeri's theme, to be honest. This is a player that quite frankly now, he's almost certainly not winning slams.
Or, you know, we know what his peak level is. I think we know who he is as a player. Unless something extraordinary happens. Winning the Davis Cup and I know he's already done it, but winning the Davis Cup will probably be the peak of his career. And he could have a chance to have that again. They would be far from favourites. But I don't understand the decision from Felix Orgeri's theme. I'm quite surprised by it.
And I think it does tell you something about the sort of progress that the new revamped Davis Cup format still needs to make. I think when they changed the format, a big, big reason for it was that it would totally be a priority for everyone. People are always saying, I don't want to play Davis Cup is the schedule. I still think like, obviously like Al Krasz is here and Sinner is here. And generally a lot of teams do have their best players, Taylor Fritz as well for the US.
We do have a lot of big names, but it's not at point yet in the calendar still where it's guaranteed that everyone is going to be here. And that's not entirely the Davis Cup's fault. It's a wider discussion about the season and how this is literally bolted onto the end of it and all of that. But it does show I think that the competition has still got a way to go, to be the World Cup.
If it's a true World Cup, no one's skipping it. You are playing it no matter what. And I think we've still got a way to go to get to that point. Yeah, it's a good point. Absolutely. David, Germany or Canada? Look at Germany. You've got such a clear edge in doubles, haven't they? Yeah, looking at those two lineups, I do think Germany. I just think Australia was the heart of that team really.
And although I do still think MiloShrownich is a difficult customer indoors, for instance, with his serve, he is tough to break. And Jalos clearly talented and he's a huge guy in all the rest of it. You're hoping that he can handle the occasion. And so you've got two people at the absolute opposite extremes of their career right there. And Vassik Pospissal, who's also really tail-ends of his career, and he has had a lot of injury problems.
So you're looking at them and thinking, OK, well, Dennis Schappel, if you're right, he won that tournament recently in Belgrade. We know how good he can be, but it always felt really like it was Australia-Semed team. And Schappel was the main supporting act and they were a good combo.
I don't see Schappel of lead in the victory, really. Not against a strong, not as... I mean, Germany aren't without Zwerve, they are obviously massively depleted themselves, but they've got strong players, not worldies, not like Zwerve, but struff is a strong player. And that doubles team as just won the ultimate in the season ending championship, so I would expect them to come out.
Zwerve, Germany would be a favourite to win this thing, probably behind Italy, but probably second favourites behind Italy, with that doubles team. Yeah, agreed. It is so huge for Germany that Zwerve doesn't play. Yeah, and it's a shame. But that's how the bottom of the Dior is looking. Germany against Canada to face the winner of Spain against the Netherlands will look at the top half of the draw in Part 3. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.
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Let's start at the very top with the team that I think are universally considered favourites for the title here, the defending champions Italy. They take on Argentina in their first match Italy, of course, led by Yannick Sinner. But how about this for depth Lorenzo Mazzetti at Mateo Berrini who's been swapped in for Flavio Caballi who is originally in the team. And then you have the incredible doubles team of Andrea Vassori and Simone Bollelli, the captain, Filippo Vellandri.
And then Argentina is Sebastian Bias, Francisco Surrangelo, Thomas Martinez-Chervery, who we saw at breakfast this morning. We weren't at breakfast ourselves, but we passed by him while he was breakfasting. Maximo González and Andrea's Maltini, of course, a great doubles team. And their captain is Guillermo Correa. Tell me David how Italy can fail to win this Davis Cup or certainly this tie. They are heavy, heavy favourites, aren't they? Yeah, they look pretty ultimate as a nation.
I mean, it's rare that you get a country that's got that sort of strength all the way through where even if you drop in players out, you've got people coming in. They are really strong. Obviously, there's only one Yannick Sinner in that team. And the thing is, he's making his end of season just look all very doable. I feel like I've criticised our GRLC, and it's very rare.
Maybe I didn't criticise one or two of the players that didn't play the Belgian Cup, because they felt like they hadn't quite got enough left in the tank or they're concentrating on next year and so forth. But maybe that won't some criticism as well, because the way he Sinner just looks like it's just business. It's just business as usual. He'll go and play this, and then he'll have whatever time off he has.
And that's fine, and he'll be ready for Australia, unless the case would waddle into Vines and stops him from playing. He just makes everything look fathry. And them as a team on this surface, I think it is maybe one of the things about the competition staying in the same location. It'd be very interesting to see them have to do this on clay, for instance, against Argentine.
I'd be really interested in seeing that the best team on paper in the world, but up against a nation who is adept and favours clay. That's the one thing that really is bothering me, I think, still about the format. But no, I mean, I can't see any world in which they don't get through. I think one interesting difference to last year for Italy is that we didn't really know what their doubles would be last year, and they hit upon Sinner and Sonnego, and that really worked.
They were superb in the doubles matches that they had to play. Sonnego is not here. Where is Sonnego? Who could say? Why isn't he here? I don't know, but Lely and Vavassori, obviously good doubles players, but I don't know, given what Sinner did on the doubles court last year, and given the four of them, you're going to want him on that court if they're playing a decisive match, I would have thought.
Who you partner with him and Sonnego really worked last year. If they do get pushed to a doubles, and most likely the scenario there is that their number two loses, because obviously Sinner's in such good form, it's hard to see anyone here beating Sinner quite frankly.
Then number two could either be Mazzetti or Baratini, obviously both very strong options, incredibly strong. Most countries would be pretty happy with them as their number one, but it's not beyond the realm's possibility that they lose Sinner wins and then we're in a doubles. So I think that's what I think is interesting, what Italy do this year in the doubles, because it just made sense in the end last year to go Sinner and Sonnego.
So that's probably the thing that's interesting to me most about Italy this year, just the fact that the makeup of that team is a little bit different. It goes to show the depth they've got, like last year Arnaldi was their guy and he's not here, and it doesn't really feel like they're weaker, arguably they're stronger with Mazzetti having had the year he's had and Baratini we know when he's fit he's still been a real threat on the tour.
And then like Caboli who's ended up not playing, there are so many Italian players, like I think we said last year, they kind of should be dominating this competition, particularly the point David makes the facts it's on an indoor hardcore and they've got Sinner who's the best in the world at that. They should be trying to create a little Davis cut dynasty right now given the number of options and the quality they have and it feels like that option is available to them.
It's a good point about Mazzetti I would trust him so much more than 12 months ago. I know it's not a great surface for him, you know stick it on clay and wow. But I just makes me realize how differently I think of him now to 12 months ago he's he's banished a lot of my fleakiness suspicions about it. I've slightly recategorised him in my mind what water team they are fascinating conundrum about the about the doubles for Italy.
USA against Australia is the other time we haven't yet discussed the winner of this one to take on the winner of Italy against Argentina. The US team who we also saw in the hotel lobby this morning Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Austin Crycheck, Rajiv Ram with Captain Bob Bryan that is a strong team with a lot of depth. A lot of depth, a lot of options. Interesting that you know there was that big controversy around the US team when Mardi Fisch was captain they only brought four players.
They obviously left Rajiv Ram off the team when they when they came to the finals a couple of years ago and it ended up hurting them. Now they've got Bob Bryan as captain you kind of think he's he's probably going to want a doubles team. I suspect he will play doubles players in a decisive doubles. But then there would also potentially have the choice of Fritz and Shelton who again to go back to the Labour Cup.
I think played played together and played well and kind of talked up the fact that they wanted to play more together. So they've got so many options. Interested who he picks at the two out of Paul and Shelton. I think that's a that's a big dilemma that you've probably got there. Paul tends to like Shelton doesn't actually get that many wins against really top players like he doesn't have that many wins even against like top 20 players.
This year his record isn't brilliant. Paul's probably a little bit more reliable in that sense but I don't know it feels like then the sort of vibe of the competition kicks in and so Shelton in this environment feels like a guy that you want playing for you and want out on the court and with his serve indoors like.
So I think that's a big decision for Captain Bob Rant to make and Fritz at one as long as he's recovered from Chorin he feels like a lot to play there and perform really well and we may well get Fritz in again because they may well meet in the semi finals. But I do think the US are going to have their hands full getting past Australia as well.
So the Australian team is interesting obviously Captain Lane here it now the team that was named is Alexi Popper and again think of him as a slightly different players what we did 12 months ago Jordan Thompson, the Nazi Coconut kiss Max Bacell and Matt Ebton great doubles team obviously. Now Alex Domenore is here and Domenore is going to play and he's he's going to play.
He's he's he's coming in for Puzzle so why was it named in this team to start with because when those when these when these teams were announced I assumed it was a fitness thing you know lately who it is sort of sort of his coach isn't he like unofficially certainly involved in his team.
He's been at you know he's a stick your hand up to play Davis Cup guy I know Australia have issues with the format Lane here has massive issues with the format but he is committed to the spirit of this competition and is to the extent that he's able to put those concerns to one side so I assumed it was fitness when that team list came out because of what Domenore had been through in the summer and at Wimbledon.
And what he was still suffering with it the US open clearly but he's clearly fit he's at a great end of season played at the ATP finals you know didn't. Didn't really matches but like played well. But why was he in the team no I think you're right I think it was a fitness issue you know those teams were named weeks ago these line ups and at the time I think there was a lot of.
Doubt about whether he would be fit especially like the fact that he he sort of wanted to he wanted to make a push to qualify for the ATP finals and that meant pushing through his body that maybe wasn't quite ready for that but he did push through he got there but Lane he always sort of runs these these sort of training camps like the week before and he's done this a lot he has switched up his team right at the last minute I remember popper in coming in late I think
I think I can ask his come in laser runs trials doesn't he right he the week before exactly like what he sees he then change and sometimes someone can go from not even being in the squad to being in the team you know literally taking to the court. So he is very open to like making like decisions and I guess he's he's seen enough from Alex Domenore and Domenore has said to him I'm fit and if Domenore saying that it's an absolute no brain like you play Alex Domenore he's their best player.
Particularly in this competition and it makes Australia extremely dangerous I think because popper in at the two is a great option to have and Domenore at the one is obviously also a good option but given the draw he's probably he's probably going to have to play fritz and that's a tough one for him but then Australia
and I think we've got a good doubles as well OK haven't got Purcell now well but Eddon and Thompson is still strong is it controversial that Purcell is the one to go I would have expected coconut is to be the one to go because Purcell's an option a strong option in doubles and an a decent single coconut is hasn't done much yeah I agree I was a bit surprised it was for Purcell maybe there's an injury issue there don't know or maybe coconut is performed brilliantly at the latent hewitt boot camp
what do we think of this tie David these are two teams of serious depth this feels this feels tight to me I tell you when you're reading out those names so right where is this because I am not moving for about seven hours here the sounds fantastic the depth the strength the fact that Shelton and Paul should come in fresh as well they've had a couple of weeks off you know and it's that's been a rare thing on the tour for those
guys they're going to be jumping out of that boots on a and and Australia every single year just talk about how this is the thing they want to win more than anything else you know they I know they're they're they're going to be in the format but it doesn't dampen their enthusiasm and their passion to win it so I think this this is going to be intense and every every tie should be a good one I I'd be surprised if that doesn't end up in the doubles
it's a lot cited draw isn't it you know like the the half with Spain is obviously been carried by the fact that yes you've got Alchair as there and you've got a double story but Germany Canada Netherlands like a much weaker on paper than US Italy Australia who are all in that in that top half like it's it is kind of like we've got with the
Billie Jean King Cup to be honest as well like one half has got kind of the big names and kind of the stars but you know I think the Spain story is so big that that's that is going of power that half of the draw. Yeah, you're right. If Spain go out and round one, other than the dazzling Wesley Coolhoff for a time and story, the bottom half of the draw does start to pale in comparison to what you've got names, names wise in the top half. Apologies, Bertic, Fanders and Scope.
But again, I think the Dutch are comfortable with that. I think they're really comfortable being like, okay, you're not talking about us, are you? We're going to poop on your party. Okay, who's winning this thing? I think I will go italy. The Italian dynasty for Matt. David, give us some romance. Based after what you've just read. Well, the romantic pick is Spain, isn't it? You're not going to do that. I think the US are going to win it. Based off what you just said.
I know, Dave, I mean, it's a tough draw for them, I know. To start with Australia, to Italy, to go through, it's a lot, but just, and I know, I know they're likely to be loved one down. I get the point, but I just feel like I backed them to win their number two against pretty much anybody, I think. And then stick on the top. Who would you play at number two, David? Paul or Shelton?
I'd probably go Paul at this stage, but I actually think it could be one of those situations where it's not that in each round. Like, if they would get through, I think that they could mix that up. That's the beauty of that team. I think you could sub in, depending on match, of who you've got. I mean, imagine being out of unleashed, fresh, Ben Shelton. Again, somebody who doesn't like a lefty serve and that sort of thing.
But I would have thought that they'll go Paul, who just seems such a well-rounded player. And I think should be very effective indoors. And I think now he's got, maybe, he was feeling it, I felt, in that race, to try to see if he could get to the ACB finals and all that sort of thing. Now he can come into this, a bit unshackled. He's had a good season. And I think he can just go player. I think he's going to be dangerous.
Look, I think Italy against US in the semis, with the caveat that Australia is a very tough draw for the US, that would be fascinating from a tactical strategy point of view, because they both got options at number two. Like Italy could go Mazzetti or Baratini, US could go Shelton or Paul. So it's like trying to think what the other captain's going to do and trying to get them match-up best that you want. Like, I love all of that.
And I think that tie would really lend itself to that kind of like captain strategy coming in. Yeah, I would love to see that tie. Yep, me too. Tickets are still available for the Davis Cup this week. For every tie, I think, apart from Spain against the Netherlands for obvious reasons. Just head to the Davis Cup website if you want to get yourself a trip to Malago, which really is a lovely city.
And to the Davis Cup, what a fun time and the possibility of bumping into me and Matt, if that's an inducement and entisement for you. I don't know, fine if it's not, but there you have it. Also, if you stay at whatever this hotel was called that we were at this morning, Matt, the definite possibility of having some breakfast with tennis players, they were everywhere. Near talent groups. For tennis players. Yes, for sure. The Dutch were definitely there.
One other thing to mark your card about, and that is that we still have one more edition of tennis relived to come in 2024. And if Davis Cup is your bag, you are in luck because it is Davis Cup relived. We and some of our favorite contributors are going to be sharing our favorite or most notable Davis Cup memories from down the years. And David has been digitally loitering and gathering voice notes from said contributors and it's going to be a really fun show.
We're going to be recording that next week. And it'll be up for friends of the tennis podcast. So if you'd like to become a friend, the link to do that, as always, is in our show notes. And it will also give you access to the barge, which is where you join the Kizmova fun, quite frankly. We've ended up in a situation where, likely we're going to have Emma Raddakarno against Kizmova. Who are you going to mature? What a time that's going to be. Don't put that on the spot like that, poor thing.
Nobody I will be here in my professional capacity. Awesome. Hello to Phoebe. A big week for Phoebe. Our Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup mascot, whose owner, Priyanka, is the ultimate Raffa on the Dahl fan. It's going to be an emotional few days for Priyanka and for Carlos Alcaraz, I think. So thinking of Priyanka and hello to Phoebe. Hello, of course, to our mascots, the dearly departed Darwin, Francis, and Heider and Soma. Hello to Billie Jean. Hello, Billie Jean squirrel.
Who is sponsored by Billie Jean King and Alana Klos. Our topfakes and executive producers are, of course, Graeme, not, of course, Greg, Chris, Jamie and Jeff. And we're reunited. So we have shout outs. Yes. And we start with Brangle Hunning in London. Hello. Brangle. A little bit like Madison Brangle, but not quite. I think that's the best we're going to do, though. Yeah. Yeah. That's an awesome name. Is Brangle A celebrity, because that is a famous person name? No. I don't know.
I mean, Brangle didn't offer any other information. Has kept it, so a simple shout out. From London, big city London. Could be any. It could be my neighbour. Could be your neighbour. Could live miles away. Thank you, mysterious Brangle. We have less mysterious. James Meredith, who we know, we know James. We know James. Hello, James. Oh, James is originally from Bristol, but has been living in London for the past eight years. And he's been a friend of the pod for a long time as well.
And he's also a big Charlie Ackley share fan. Loves it when Charlie's on the pod. Aren't we all James? Big day for James yesterday. Yes. We should have given him a shout out. And yesterday's portion, weren't we? But the rule is we don't do shout outs and us all together. So when we're in a podcast race, no shout outs. Thank you, James, for your continued support to the pod. We're very lucky to have you.
And finally, we have Rachel Jones, who is originally from Wolverhampton, but now lives in Switzerland near Zurich. Oh, hello, Rachel. Like Fran Jones. She took one look at all the haunts. And she said, I'm believing. LAUGHTER I can say that, Rachel, because you're our worst rivals if you're from Wolverhampton, because my team, Wes from a Jalbian, don't like wolves, but I like you, even though you're from Wolverhampton. And Rachel has been listening since 2012. Rachel, there's an OG.
That is a die hard. Oh, one of the 12. LAUGHTER Oh, wow. Rachel, you've seen us at our best in our worst. LAUGHTER And all we've got is a three. We've got Fran Jones and we've got... We always struggle a bit with Rachel's, don't we? And up with Raquel's... We are quip. Rachel Fairbank. We've had Rachel Fairbank before. And I'll take it, David, because we are struggling here. We're flapping in the wind. Matt is googling furiously. I'm googling a name that I have in my head.
And, yes, not a tennis player. LAUGHTER The bit... OK, it looks like I've just just got a volleyball player. This is like me live on a during the torch relay during the Olympics opening ceremony, when we were not given a list of who was going to be involved. So, desperately trying to guess the identity of these athletes that were carrying torches. We're varying degrees of success, I would say. LAUGHTER I managed to get Raffa on the darned Serena Williams. They all that.
Everybody else got a little bit ropey. There was a very famous basketball player that I did not recognise. Rachel, thank you very much for your truly die hard support. That is incredible stuff. Thank you to Rachel, to Brangle, and to James. You are all excellent. Thank you to Phoebe, to Brianka, to everybody that supports the pod. If you want to become a friend, the link is in our show notes. We'll be back later, because it is, of course, another double podcast day we'll speak to you soon.
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