Tennis News

What should you know about the Davis Cup Qualifiers 2nd Round?

The 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers 2nd Round will be held from 12-14 September. A total of 14 nations, including former champions Australia, France and Spain, are set to compete in seven home-or-away ties in different cities around the world.

The action commences with Japan’s home tie against Germany (in Tokyo) from 12-13 September, with four more ties also to be played on the same days. Australia’s home tie against Belgium (in Sydney) and Spain’s home tie against Denmark (in Marbella) will take place on 13-14 September.

What is the format of these ties?

On day 1, two singles matches will take place. On day 2, one doubles match and two singles matches will take place.

Who are some of the players who will be in action during the Davis Cup Qualifiers 2nd Round?

No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings Taylor Fritz (USA), Alex de Minaur (Australia), Frances Tiafoe (USA), Holger Rune (Denmark), #NextGen ATP star Jakub Mensik (Czechia) and Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina) are some of the key players scheduled to represent their nation in the sport’s largest annual international team competition.

The seven countries that win this weekend, along with 2024 champion Italy, will compete for the title in the Davis Cup Finals, held from 18-23 November in Bologna, Italy.

Here is a complete list of ties and venues for the Qualifiers 2nd Round:
Netherlands vs. Argentina at Martiniplaza, Groningen, Netherlands
Australia vs. Belgium at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia
Hungary vs. Austria at Fonix Arena, Debrecen, Hungary
Germany vs. Japan at ARIAKE Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan
USA vs. Czechia at Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Beach, USA
Denmark vs. Spain at Club de Tenis Puente Romano, Marbella, Spain
Croatia vs. France at Dvorana Gradski Vrt, Osijek, Croatia

Alongside seven ties in the Qualifiers 2nd Round, 13 World Group I ties and 13 World Group II ties are taking place globally.

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Alcaraz back on tennis’ throne: Relive the Spaniard’s stints at No. 1

At the ripe age of 19, Carlos Alcaraz was on top of the tennis world. He won his first major title at the 2022 US Open to become the youngest World No. 1 (19 years, four months) in PIF ATP Rankings history. Alcaraz would then enjoy four stints, two of which came before the Spaniard’s 20th birthday, atop the PIF ATP Rankings across 12 months.

When Novak Djokovic captured his 24th major trophy at the 2023 US Open to reclaim No. 1 honours, little did Alcaraz know he would have to wait two years to return to the top spot.

First stint: 12 September, 2022 to 29 January, 2023 (20 weeks)

Alcaraz’s debut reign lasted 20 weeks, from the end of the 2022 US Open to the conclusion of the 2023 Australian Open. He defeated Casper Ruud at Flushing Meadows in a high-stakes, double-prize final. The winner of that championship match would not only lift a major trophy for the first time, but also become World No. 1 the next day.

Alcaraz finished that season by claiming ATP No. 1 presented by PIF honours. Although, he spent part of his first stint sidelined due to injury. He suffered an oblique tear that kept him from competing at the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, followed by a right leg injury that forced him to miss the 2023 Australian Open. Djokovic’s triumph in Melbourne meant that the all-time leader in weeks at No. 1 would return to that spot.

Second stint: 20 March, 2023 to 2 April, 2023 (two weeks)
Alcaraz wasted no time reasserting himself when he was back on Tour. He won 14 of his first 15 matches — with title runs in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells — to reclaim No. 1 honours from Djokovic in March 2023.

What followed was a back-and-forth tug-of-war at the top. Alcaraz’s second stint lasted only two weeks before Djokovic returned to No. 1.

Third and fourth stints: 22 May, 2023 to 11 June, 2023 (three weeks); 26 June, 2023 to 10 September, 2023 (11 weeks)
In May ‘23, the Spaniard briefly climbed to the pole position again, only for Djokovic to reclaim it at Roland Garros. Alcaraz countered at Queen’s Club, lifting the trophy to retake No. 1 — and this time, he held it for 11 weeks, during which Alcaraz captured his first Wimbledon crown, defeating seven-time champ Djokovic in a thrilling five-set final. The Serbian Djokovic struck back, escaping Alcaraz in an epic Cincinnati final before carrying his momentum to the US Open, where he claimed his fourth trophy at the American Slam to, again, return to No. 1.

Now, after two years of waiting, Alcaraz is back atop the PIF ATP Rankings. His latest return to World No. 1 comes on the heels of a dominant run at the US Open, where he surrendered just one set — to rival Jannik Sinner in the final — en route to his sixth major title. Alcaraz ended Sinner’s debut No. 1 stint, which lasted 65 weeks, the fourth-longest debut stint among the 29 ATP No. 1 club members.

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Ruud & fiancée Galligani announce they are expecting first child

Casper Ruud and his fiancée Maria Galligani shared exciting news on social media Thursday. The couple announced that they are expecting their first child.

“The team is growing. See you next year baby girl,” Ruud wrote in an Instagram post, accompanied by a photo of the couple (and their dog!) celebrating the announcement.

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A post shared by Casper Ruud (@casperruud)

The post quickly drew heartfelt congratulations from fellow ATP Tour stars, including Novak Djokovic, Tommy Paul, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and more.

Last November, Ruud announced his engagement to Galligani.

Ruud, No. 12 in the PIF ATP Rankings, holds a 29-12 season record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. He won his biggest career title this year at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.

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Stella Artois ATP Perfect Serve: Vote now for August's winner

From Carlos Alcaraz’s near-perfect game, to Gabriel Diallo’s extreme kicker and Terence Atmane’s ace bombardment, the fourth edition of the ATP Perfect Serve, brought to you by Stella Artois, featured some world-class moments.

In August, Alcaraz gained crucial momentum in his Cincinnati semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev by backing a break of serve with a standout game on his own delivery. The Spaniard would go on to defeat the German and lift the ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Ohio.

Meanwhile, the then-No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Jannik Sinner, faced difficulty from the deliveries of Atmane and Diallo at the hard-court ATP Masters 1000 event. Atmane fired three consecutive aces against the Italian at 3-3, while Diallo saved a break point with an extreme kicker in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Sinner.

Watch the video below, then head to our Stella Artois ATP Perfect Serve hub to vote for your favourite!

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Hot Shot of the Month: Julian Cash’s epic scramble en route to Toronto title

Julian Cash has claimed August’s Hot Shot of the Month award for his quick thinking and fearless determination during the men’s doubles final at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

In the second set of his all-British showdown with partner Lloyd Glasspool against Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, the 29-year-old looked to be chasing a lost cause as the ball sailed toward the stands. But in a moment of brilliance, Cash turned it into a clean winner over Skupski’s head before celebrating with a pose atop the advertising board courtside.

Although Cash and Glasspool dropped the set, they went on to save four championship points in a dramatic Match Tie-break, clinching their first ATP Masters 1000 crown and sixth trophy of the season. The British pair is No. 1 in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

With this award, Cash joins Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz on the fan-voted winners list. Stay tuned for more electrifying hot shots throughout the ATP Tour season.

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Berrettini ready for his first tournament since Wimbledon in Hangzhou

Matteo Berrettini is ready and raring to go for the 2025 Asian swing.

After nearly two and a half months without competing due to injury, the former No. 6 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Wednesday confirmed he will compete at the upcoming Lynk & Co Hangzhou Open, a hard-court ATP 250 that begins on 17 September.

“Final prep ✅ See you in Hangzhou! 🇨🇳 🔨🤼‍♂️”, wrote Berrettini in an Instagram post that included video of him training on court.

Berrettini is 13-11 for the 2025 season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, a tally that included Top 10 wins against Novak Djokovic in Doha in February and Alexander Zverev in Monte-Carlo in April. In his most recent competitive outing, the 29-year-old fell to Kamil Majchrzak in five sets in the first round at Wimbledon, and he then missed the entire North American hard-court swing due to injury.

Berrettini will join his fellow former Top 10 stars Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in the Hangzhou draw. Hometown favourite Wu Yibing and the in-form Alexander Bublik will also compete in Zhejiang province, while Marin Cilic is the defending champion.

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The Wimbledon debutants ready for pro careers

British teenagers Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic say it is time to step into the senior ranks and start climbing the ladder to the WTA Tour.

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Hewitt gets two-week ban for pushing doping official

Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt gets a two-week ban and fine after being found guilty of pushing a doping control official.

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Alcaraz on Sinner rivalry: 'We push each other to the limit'

Carlos Alcaraz was riding high Monday in New York.

The Spaniard, fresh off claiming his sixth major trophy at the US Open, enjoyed a rooftop photoshoot in front of the Manhattan skyline to celebrate his second triumph at Flushing Meadows. 

The 22-year-old became one of only three men in the Open Era to claim six Slam titles before turning 23, joining Bjorn Borg and countryman Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz achieved the feat by defeating rival Jannik Sinner, against whom he owns a 10-5 Lexus ATP Head2Head advantage.

Fans dreamt of a final between Alcaraz and Sinner inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and that is what they got. This was the pair’s third consecutive major final, after Alcaraz won Roland Garros and Sinner earned revenge at Wimbledon.

<img alt=”Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/09/09/23/32/sabalenka-alcaraz-us-open-trophies-today.jpg” />
^{Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}
Alcaraz was asked about his rivalry with Sinner on NBC’s TODAY show, which he visited with US Open women’s singles champion Aryna Sabalenka.

“For me it’s great,” said Alcaraz, who explained how battling Sinner helps him improve. “I think we push each other to the limit every time. My practices are just focused to see how I can be better just to beat Jannik. So I think the rivalry, it is special, splitting Grand Slams, fighting for the great things.”

Alcaraz also recaptured No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings from Sinner by beating the Italian on Sunday. The new World No. 1 owns a 61-6 record this season according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index and will try to carry his momentum into the final two months of the season.

A winner of seven titles this season, Alcaraz is in great position to earn ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours for the second time (2022).

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Reporter Shelton turns the tables on Trinity Rodman in funny interview

Ben Shelton is making headlines on and off the court, and this time, it’s for stepping into the role of reporter.

Just two weeks ago at the US Open, the 22-year-old American was caught off guard when his girlfriend, football star Trinity Rodman, put him on the spot during a press conference by teasing him about not hitting a serve above 135mph.

On Sunday, Shelton turned the tables. After Rodman scored both goals in Washington Spritis’ 2-0 victory over Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League, Shelton seized his chance to ask the questions.

“First off, I wanna say great game, Trin. I got a couple questions,” Shelton said to Rodman, who couldn’t contain her laughter. “Two great combo goals today, it was really cool to see the assist. Could you talk about your dynamic with Croix Bethune and how you guys play off each other. It’s really cool to see.”

Rodman answered thoughtfully, but Shelton slipped in a playful reminder of the US Open cameo: “No, I’m going to keep it positive,” he joked, alluding to the pointed serve-speed question she lobbed his way in New York.

Since going public with their relationship in March, Rodman has been a fixture at many of Shelton’s tournaments, including Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Now sidelined with a shoulder injury that forced him to retire from his third-round match in New York, the No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is returning the support by cheering on Rodman at NWSL games, and even picking up a microphone when the opportunity calls for it.

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