Spain vs Great Britain in Davis Cup duel in Marbella, Costa del Sol

Doubles match between The Netherlands, left, and Czech Republic, right, in a crucial Davis Cup rubber in 2017.

This weekend marks the beginning of one of the most hotly-anticipated events on the tennis calendar, The Davis Cup, which kicks off at the Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella on Friday at 11am. The Davis Cup is a prestigious annual team tennis tournament which sees the world’s best tennis-playing nations go for glory as they seek to become winners of this coveted international event, which has a rich history spanning over 100 years…

How does the event work? For each tie (or contest between two nations), players from opposing national teams play against each other in both singles and doubles disciplines until the winner of five rubbers (individual matches) is decided. The first day of play features two singles rubbers, then a doubles rubber is played on Saturday, followed by a further two singles rubbers on the third day of each tie (or contest, as part of a knock-out format).

Tennis fans will know that the World Group competition– the highest tier of the Davis Cup, featuring the top 16-ranked tennis nations – has not been held in Spain for the past 4 years. So the stage is set for Marbella to provide a fitting backdrop to this weekend’s clash between hosts Spain and Great Britain. Not since the World Transplant Games 2017 in Málaga has the Costa del Sol hosted such a prestigious sporting event, so the spectator turnout is set to be high from both the Spanish and British camp.

Spain, who have not tasted glory since 2011, will be eager to reverse their recent poor fortunes on their favoured clay courts, while Great Britain, who prevailed in the 2015 edition, start the weekend as slight underdogs. Another factor to throw into the mix is that both squads are without their first-string players, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, through injury.

A lot is expected of Spaniard Feliciano López, world-ranked 37, in Marbella this weekend against Team Great Britain.

For the victors, the spoils… the winners of this weekend’s head-to-head will face either Australia or Germany in the quarter finals of the competition in April, while the losers will have to fight for their right to remain in next year’s World Group classification with a play-off contest in September. 

Elsewhere in the competition, reigning champions France will be looking to impress as they start the defence of their crown against The Netherlands this weekend in Albertville, France.

Whatever the final result on Sunday afternoon in Marbella, a thrilling weekend of tennis is on the cards and those lucky enough to have tickets will be treated to a magnificent encounter between two powerhouses of the modern game.

For expats wishing to get into tennis, there are a plethora of clubs, individual courts and even academies all along the Costa del Sol where the sport is played at all levels and age groups. There are also regular beach tennis and wheelchair tennis competitions. For more information and to find your nearest club, click here.