2025 Davis Cups Finals preview: Format, draw, teams

While the ATP and WTA Tours may be taking a break until January, tennis continues this week with the 2025 Davis Cup Finals unfolding in Bologna, Italy. For the diehard fans who will be tuned in, read on as we dig into everything there is to know about this global event.

What is the 2025 Davis Cup Finals format?

The 2025 Davis Cup Finals take place from 18-23 November, featuring eight teams vying for the 113th title of the event.

The participants are the seven winners of the second-round qualifiers earlier this year (Germany, France, Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Argentina), as well as host nation Italy.

Teams will play two singles matches with a double decider if needed, with each tie unfolding on one day. The format is a straight knockout, beginning with quarter-finals before progressing to semi-finals and a final.

Four teams are seeded, and will begin against unseeded nations in their opening ties.

2025 Davis Cup Finals draw

Quarter-finals

Italy (1) vs Austria
France (3) vs Belgium
Spain vs (4) Czech Republic
Argentina vs (2) Germany

Semi-finals

Winner of Italy/Austria vs winner of France/Belgium
Winner of Spain/Czech Republic vs winner of Argentina/Germany

Final

Winner of semi-final one vs winner of semi-final two

Five things to watch out for at the 2025 Davis Cup Finals

Given the format of the 2025 Davis Cup Finals, and the event’s prestige, there are plenty of storylines to watch out for this week. Here’s what we’re keeping an eye on:

Italy hunt 53-year-old record

No team has won the Davis Cup three years in a row since the United States did so in 1972. Two-time defending champions Italy (2023 and 2024) will look to change that this week.

The host nation enter as top seeds, boasting a strong doubles pairing in Vavassori/Bolelli as well as three threatening singles options: Cobolli, Sonego and Berrettini. However, they will have to do without their two strike weapons, Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, who are both taking extended off seasons and not representing their country this year.

Argentina, Belgium eye more upsets

Few predicted that Argentina and Belgium would feature in the 2025 Davis Cup Finals, with each pulling off big upsets in the second-round qualifiers.

Argentina took down top seeds and 2024 runners-up the Netherlands 3-1 in front of a Dutch crowd in Groningen, with Etcheverry and Cerundolo both nabbing straight-set wins before Molteni/Zeballos did the same in doubles.

Belgium also surprised, knocking out second-seeded Australia, who finished runners-up in 2023 and 2022. Collignon was the hero for this country, with the 23-year-old upsetting top-10 player Alex de Minaur before sealing the tie 3-2 when he edged out Aleksandar Vukic too.

Etcheverry playing for Argentina last year

Is Jaume Munar the deciding factor?

World No 1 Alcaraz is by far the highest caliber singles player competing in the 2025 Davis Cups Finals, arriving fresh off his championship match against Sinner in Turin.

Given he’s made the effort to be in Bologna and represent his country, it’s safe to assume the Spaniard will play and win each of his singles matches.

That leaves just one point for Spain to win all of their ties, and that could rest on shoulders of Jaume Munar. The world No 36 is the third-best of the second-ranked singles players in each team. Should he go on a tear, then Spain won’t need to rely on scraping through their doubles matches and should have the trophy locked up.

Jiri Lehecka’s looks to reignite Davis Cup form

Coming into the 2025 Davis Cup Finals, Jiri Lehecka is unbeaten across Davis Cup action in 2025. The Czech raced past Gerard Campana Lee in his nation’s opener, before bringing his best tennis in the second-round to defeat both Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz.

However, Lehecka currently sits on a three-match losing streak, dating back to the start of the indoor season when he made the final of Brussels. Since then, he’s lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime, Botic van de Zandschulp and Valentin Vacherot. He’ll be hoping there’s something about the Davis Cup that sparks his form again.

Germany sitting pretty

Looking at the team lists (see below), Germany are our pick to go on and win this year. Bottom line, they have the most well-rounded team with multiple avenues to prevail.

Italy have singles depth, Spain have Alcaraz, others have underdog form, but Germany have a combination of everything. Alexander Zverev is a world-class singles player – currently ranked No 3 – that has a reputation for rising to the challenge in team events. The nation boasts the strongest doubles pairing at the tournament in world No 11s Krawietz/Putz as well.

This alone should be enough to get them over the line, but if not, then don’t discount Jan-Lennard Struff or Yannick Hanfmann coming through in singles either. Each have the tendency to pull upsets out of the bag with their unconventional tennis.

Looking at the tennis betting odds ahead of the event, Germany currently pays around 4.50 (+350) to win.