Days away from a make-or-break Davis Cup qualifying tie, Spain have encountered another setback.
Following his exploits in New York, Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from Spain’s Davis Cup squad for their match this weekend.
Spain will play Denmark on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, with the winner advancing to the Davis Cup Finals in November.
Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images
Alcaraz wasn’t the only player to withdraw, as Spanish number two, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, also chose to skip the event.
In even worse news, captain David Ferrer has now seen another Spanish Grand Slam winner drop out, leaving the nation vulnerable to a shock defeat against a team ranked 11 places below them.
Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Marcel Granollers withdraws due to injury
Spanish media outlet Marca has reported that Marcel Granollers will miss Spain’s Davis Cup tie with Denmark.
The veteran has won two Grand Slam titles this year, winning the French Open and the US Open with his partner Horacio Zeballos.
Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Granollers reportedly underwent medical tests earlier this week, but was not cleared to compete, and will now spend some time recovering from a foot injury.
Ferrer has not replaced Granollers and will instead take on Denmark with four singles players.
Spain’s Davis Cup squad vs DenmarkJaume Munar – ATP #37Pedro Martinez – ATP #67Roberto Carballes Baena – ATP #109Pablo Carreno Busta – ATP #123
All four players have experience playing at the highest level, but don’t provide the Grand Slam-winning star power the team has lost since Alcaraz and Granollers withdrew.
Denmark, their opponents this weekend, will surely feel like they now have a real chance of reaching the Davis Cup Finals.
Led by top-15 star Holger Rune, the Scandinavian side head to Marbella looking to pick up one of the biggest wins in the nation’s history.
Denmark’s Davis Cup squad vs SpainHolger Rune – ATP #11Elmer Moller – ATP #113August Homgren – ATP #176Christian Sigsgaard – ATP #509Johannes Ingildsen – ATP #125 (doubles)
Rune, the former world number four, has been hard at work since losing early at the US Open, preparing for a return to clay at the Davis Cup.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious when Spain play Denmark, but who else is competing this week in the Davis Cup?
Full list of Davis Cup qualifying ties[1] Netherlands vs [14] Argentina[2] Australia vs [13] BelgiumHungary vs Austria[4] Germany vs Japan[5] USA vs [10] CzechiaDenmark vs [9] Spain[7] Croatia vs [8] France
The seven winners will advance and join host nation Italy in the Davis Cup Finals, which will begin on Tuesday, November 18, in Bologna.
Since the Davis Cup format changed in 2019, the tournament finals had been hosted in Spain, and have been won by four different teams.
YearWinnersRunners-upScore2024ItalyNetherlands2-02023ItalyAustralia2-02022CanadaAustralia2-02021RussiaCroatia2-02019SpainCanada2-0Davis Cup winners since 2019
Looking to win their first title in six years, Spain will hope to see world number one Alcaraz return to the side should they qualify for the finals.
Carlos Alcaraz sends message after withdrawing from Davis Cup
Speaking to El Larguero, Alcaraz explained why he chose to withdraw from Spain’s Davis Cup tie against Denmark.
“The truth is that it’s difficult for me, I feel very bad,” he said.
“I’m on a very demanding tour, with a lot of matches. The demands have been very high both mentally and physically.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
“I don’t have time to prepare in the best possible way and arrive at the Davis Cup in good shape, which would be too selfish. Other players can do better.
“Personally, I need rest to face the rest of the season and, above all, to stay mentally calm and assimilate everything that has happened on this tour of the United States.”
Instead of playing this week in the Davis Cup, Alcaraz will rest up ahead of his return to action at the Japan Open ATP 500 event, which begins on Monday, September 22.