David Ferrer has some big decisions to make ahead of the Davis Cup Finals this year.
Ferrer took over the role of being Spain’s captain at the Davis Cup 2023, having won the event three times as a player. This year’s Davis Cup Finals will be Ferrer’s last as Spain’s captain, as he seeks his first title in this position.
The former world number three came closest to doing so last year after Spain reached the final of the Davis Cup, where they lost to Italy.
Ferrer has Carlos Alcaraz back ready for selection for his final Davis Cup Finals, but another in-form Spanish player is also hoping to be in the picture.
David Ferrer appears to be under pressure from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
There is just over a month to go until the Davis Cup Finals take place in Bologna, with Spain one of the eight teams in contention after beating Chile in their recent Qualifier tie in Santiago.
Although there is still time for Ferrer to make his picks, it has been rumoured that the four players on his team will be Alcaraz, Rafael Jodar, as well as a doubles pairing of Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez.
While this is yet to be confirmed, there would still be one spot available, as Davis Cup teams are allowed to have up to five players each. One of the Spanish players hoping to be picked is world number 26 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who is finishing the season in form.
After missing the US Open due to a back injury, Davidovich Fokina won his second ATP title at the Chengdu Open and he has continued this form at the Shanghai Masters.
Davidovich Fokina is now into his fourth ATP 1000 semi-final at the Shanghai Masters, meaning that he is now unbeaten in all eight of his matches this year.
The latest of his eight victories came via retirement against Arthur Gea, and after the match Davidovich Fokina wrote ‘Waiting…” on the camera lens. While this is not explicit in what he is saying, it is being reported that Davidovich Fokina is speaking directly to Ferrer with this message.
The Davis Cup has to make a change… which is your preference?
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was left out of Spain’s Davis Cup team by David Ferrer last year
This is not the first time that Davidovich Fokina has been involved with Davis Cup drama, having been left out of Spain’s team for the Finals last year.
Instead, Ferrer initially picked Alcaraz and Jaume Munar as his main two singles players, something Davidovich Fokina spoke out about at the time.
“Being ranked 18th in the world, I think I deserved to be among the four best players in my country, with all due respect to my teammates, who, as I said, are also great players,” Davidovich Fokina said last year. “Now, my goal is to focus on the rest of the season and prepare myself to reach the highest level next year.”
However, Ferrer went on to clarify his decision, suggesting that he would have picked Davidovich Fokina, but he did not want to be part of a team where he would not be one of the first-choice singles players.
“He told me, ‘If I don’t make the first list (team), don’t speak to me, so that’s why he is ruled out of playing in Bologna,” said Ferrer.
“It’s something I have to accept, but of course, Alejandro [Davidovich Fokina] is a great player, he is 14 in the world, he could be an important player for us, but he ruled himself out.”
Davidovich Fokina could be in a similar position again this year, with Alcaraz and Jodar the top two ranked Spanish players right now. The 2026 Davis Cup Finals will begin on November 24, with Spain’s lineup set to be announced at the end of October.
