Zverev, Shelton back on court for Davis Cup qualifiers

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 17, 2026

Alexander Zverev will quickly return to competition as Germany faces Croatia in a Davis Cup qualifier this weekend, aiming to secure a Finals spot with Zverev playing a key role despite concerns over his rapid comeback. Meanwhile, the United States battles the Czech Republic amid key player withdrawals, while South Korea and India vie for a historic quarterfinal berth as the first Asian nation since 2021.

Alexander Zverev will quickly return to competition this weekend as Germany seeks to qualify for the Davis Cup Finals, while American Ben Shelton aims to move past his recent US Open final loss.

Zverev, the world number two and newly crowned US Open champion, faces a second-round qualifier against Croatia in Halle on Saturday and Sunday. Earlier this month, Zverev secured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open before adding the US Open crown, marking a breakthrough year. Germany is aiming for its first Davis Cup title since 1993, with Zverev playing a central role. However, his coaching staff expressed concerns about his rapid return to high-stakes play. After his US Open victory, Zverev acknowledged their apprehension but emphasized his desire to compete in the Davis Cup, underscoring the importance of team and fan support.

Michael Kohlmann’s German squad is considered the favorite against Croatia, whose lineup includes veteran Marin Cilic, 37, and rising player Dino Prizmic. Croatia has not advanced to the Finals stage since a group-round elimination in 2023, when the tournament still featured 16 teams. Zverev previously stated that the team’s focus is on holding their ground and qualifying for the Finals alongside their supporters.

Last year, Germany fell just short of the title, losing to Spain in a semifinal deciding doubles match. In another key qualifier, the United States, seeking to end a 19-year title drought and add a 33rd Davis Cup trophy, confronts a strong Czech Republic team in Prague on Friday and Saturday. The US squad has been weakened by the withdrawals of world number 10 Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, with rising star Learner Tien and 104th-ranked Martin Damm stepping in as replacements. Damm is the son of a Czech-born 2006 US Open men’s doubles champion.

The Czech lineup, led by captain Tomas Berdych, includes French Open semifinalist Jakub Mensik, 24th-ranked Jiri Lehecka, Tomas Machac, and Vit Kopriva. This matchup revisits last year’s second-round qualifier in Delray Beach, where Mensik’s decisive singles win over Frances Tiafoe helped the Czechs to a 3-2 upset victory. USA captain Bob Bryan, a member of the team that last won in 2007, will rely heavily on Shelton, who admitted feeling fatigued prior to the US Open final.

Elsewhere in Asia, the winner of the Davis Cup tie between South Korea and India in Seoul will become the first Asian nation to reach the quarterfinals since Kazakhstan’s run in 2021. The South Korean roster features Kwon Soon-woo and former Australian Open semifinalist Chung Hyeon, whose ranking has slipped to 549th in the world.

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