Former Spanish tennis star David Ferrer has taken on the role of tournament director for the Davis Cup finals, with Rakuten replacing Albert Costa, who had led the competition since 2019. The announcement was confirmed this week by Kosmos Tennis, the competition organizer, signaling a clear shift in leadership as the event continues to evolve.
Ferrer, who reached a career-high world ranking of number 3 and retired from professional play in 2009, has a strong Davis Cup pedigree. He represented Spain in 20 Davis Cup qualifying ties and helped secure the coveted “Silver Salad Bowl” on three occasions. Speaking about the opportunity, Ferrer voiced his enthusiasm for the project. He described Davis Cup as a one-of-a-kind competition, noting that players compete for their country as a united team, protect national colors, and share a week alongside teammates amid an electric arena environment that resonates with fans across the globe.
Also hailing from Madrid, Francisco “Pato” Clavet is returning to Kosmos in the role of assistant tournament director, bringing a wealth of experience to support the competition team. His familiarity with the Davis Cup framework is expected to complement Ferrer’s leadership as the event continues to adapt to its evolving format.
Ferrer emphasized that 2022 presented a substantial challenge, with a new format introduced in 2019 that has undergone changes each year to better align with the needs of players, supporters, and sponsors. Drawing on his experience, he outlined a clear goal for the upcoming edition: to guide the competition toward a successful and memorable outcome, while preserving the core spirit of the event.
Across the upcoming phase, a total of 16 teams will compete in the group stage, scheduled from September 13 to 18 across four venues: Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg, and Valencia. After the group stage, the two leading teams from each site will earn automatic berths to the Malaga Final, slated for November 22 to 27. The tournament structure continues to emphasize a balance between competitive integrity and broad fan engagement, ensuring close-contested ties and a festival atmosphere for supporters in attendance and watching from afar.
The participating nations set to challenge for Davis Cup glory in the initial rounds include a diverse field: Germany, Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, France, England, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. This lineup showcases the global reach of the event and underscores the importance of robust organization, athlete development, and fan experience in the modern format. As the new leadership takes shape, stakeholders anticipate continued innovation alongside a commitment to preserving the competition’s historical prestige and national pride.