The 2025 Davis Cup Final 8 has begun in Bologna, bringing together eight national teams in pursuit of men’s tennis’ most prestigious team trophy. Defending champions Italy headline the field, while stars such as Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini aim to lead their nations to glory.

Italy’s challenge without Sinner

Italy entered the event as defending champions, but their roster announcement on 20 October drew attention for the absence of Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion. Despite this, Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Musetti are expected to carry the load for the Italians as they attempt to retain their crown.

Alcaraz ruled out

On the opening day of competition, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz confirmed he would miss the event due to injury. His absence reshaped the competitive landscape, leaving Olympic champion and world No. 3 Alexander Zverev as the highest-ranked singles player in the draw. Zverev will make his Davis Cup finals debut for Germany, adding intrigue to the tournament. “It’s disappointing not to be here, but I need to recover properly,” said Alcaraz.

Format of play

Matches are contested in a best-of-three format, with two singles rubbers followed by a deciding doubles match if required. The second singles rubber features each nation’s top-ranked player according to ATP standings, ensuring high-quality matchups throughout the week.

Quarter-final results and schedule

The action began on Tuesday, 18 November, with Belgium defeating France 2-0. Raphael Collignon overcame Corentin Moutet 6–2, 5–7, 7–5, while Zizou Bergs sealed the tie by beating Arthur Rinderknech 6–3, 7–6(4).

Upcoming fixtures at the SuperTennis Arena in Bologna (local time CET, GMT 1):

  • Wednesday, 19 November: 16:00 – Italy vs Austria

  • Thursday, 20 November: 10:00 – Spain vs Czechia

  • Thursday, 20 November: Not before 17:00 – Argentina vs Germany

Semi-finals and final

The semi-finals will take place on Friday, 21 November and Saturday, 22 November, with winners of the quarter-final ties advancing. The final is scheduled for Sunday, 23 November at 15:00, where the two remaining nations will battle for the Davis Cup crown.

The stage is set for a dramatic week in Bologna, with Italy seeking to defend their title and challengers like Germany, Spain, and Argentina eager to seize the opportunity.