Carlos Alcaraz has raised the idea that the Davis Cup could be held less frequently, possibly every two or three years, as a potential solution to prevent top players from skipping the prestigious team competition. His comments come in the wake of Lorenzo Musetti’s recent decision to step away from representing Italy, the two-time defending champions, at next week’s event. Musetti, who had just finished four consecutive weeks on the main tour, ended his season with a round-robin defeat to Alcaraz at the ATP Finals, finishing with a 1-2 record in his debut at the tournament.
Musetti’s withdrawal marks the second significant absence for the Italian squad, following Jannik Sinner’s earlier announcement that he would also not be playing for Italy this year. Sinner, a four-time Major champion and part of Italy’s victorious teams, has opted for a longer off-season to recover. Interestingly, Sinner has also expressed openness to the idea of a biennial Davis Cup schedule, suggesting that spacing out the tournament could enhance its appeal and the commitment of players.
Despite some high-profile players sitting out, Alcaraz has committed to representing Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, even while still competing at the ATP Finals. He acknowledged, however, that it’s understandable why other top players might feel too fatigued to add another week to the end of a long season. Alcaraz emphasized the unique nature of the Davis Cup, describing it as a rare and privileged opportunity to compete not just for oneself, but alongside teammates and for one’s country.
“If I am honest with you, I think the Davis Cup is one of those tournaments that you’re not used to feeling and playing because you’re playing for your country, you’re playing with your teammates. It’s totally different,” Alcaraz said. “I think it’s one of the most privileged things you can do in our sport, representing your country.”
Alcaraz suggested that the tournament’s annual schedule might be part of the issue, arguing that spreading the event out over two or three years could boost player commitment and make the competition feel more special. “I agree that they need to do something with this event because I think playing every year is not as good as it might be if you play every two or three years,” he said. “If the tournament is held less frequently, the players’ commitment will be even stronger because it’s unique and different. You’re not able to play it every year.”
If Alcaraz were to win the ATP Finals on Sunday, he would have just four days to recover before Spain’s first Davis Cup tie in Bologna, underscoring the tight turnaround that many players face. He expressed understanding for the decisions made by Sinner and Musetti, acknowledging the toll that a long season can take.
“Yeah, I’m playing this year. I really want to win the Davis Cup one day because for me it’s a very important tournament,” Alcaraz said. “Jannik has won it twice, and Lorenzo once or twice. For me, it’s normal for them to sit it out because the season has been so long. They may want to use that time to rest, take a vacation, or prepare for the next season, which is understandable. But I do think something should be done to make the Davis Cup unique.”
Sinner, who contributed to Italy’s Davis Cup victories in both 2023 and 2024, echoed the sentiment that holding the event annually can make it difficult to attract the very best players from each country. He proposed a format where the tournament could span two years, allowing for semifinals early in the year and the final later, possibly hosted in different locations in a home-and-away style reminiscent of past editions.
“I think with the current schedule, it’s difficult to have the best players from every country participate each year,” Sinner explained. “In the future, it could work to have the Davis Cup over two years. You could have semifinals at the start of the year and the final at the end, hosted in various stadiums. It would also be nice because you could choose locations, sell tickets, and make the event more exciting.”
Both Alcaraz and Sinner’s suggestions highlight a growing concern among top players regarding scheduling and the sustainability of the Davis Cup in its current annual format. Redesigning the event to occur less frequently could enhance its prestige, increase player participation, and preserve the unique experience of representing one’s country on a global stage.
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