The teams that will challenge us in the groups after the November triumph have been decided. The coach warns: “Spain is dangerous if they have Nadal with Alcaraz…”
Come and get us. Over the weekend, Italy, once again champions after 47 years, sat back in their armchairs and awaited the verdicts of the playoffs which were supposed to qualify 12 teams for the group stage of the Davis Cup, strengthened by a historic triumph and a technical leader like Sinner, fresh winner of the first career Slam. Australia, defeated finalist in November and the wild cards Spain and Great Britain were already entitled to the September matches, like us, and therefore we will not be able to face them, while the other contenders have emerged from four days of last-gasp challenges, as per tradition, with the sensational elimination of Serbia without Djokovic and the first time in Brazil and Slovakia with the new formula. Group draws at the end of February, but in the meantime Filippo Volandri, the captain who brought the Salad bowl back to blue, can deal with his opponents.