Alexander Zverev suggests a big change to the Davis Cup rule he calls ‘totally rubbish’
Alexander Zverev is a bit unhappy with one of the current Davis Cup rules, even though he helped Germany move forward with a 3-1 win over Croatia in Halle last weekend.
Fresh off winning his second major title of 2026 after an intense final against Ben Shelton at the US Open, Zverev kept up his great form. He won both his matches without losing a set, sending Germany into the Final Eight.
The world No. 2 will be back in Davis Cup action in Bologna at the end of November, hoping to lead Germany to win the title for only the fourth time in their history. He should be excited about their tough quarter-final against Great Britain, but there’s one rule he just can’t agree with.
After showing huge dedication by playing for his country shortly after his tough US Open win, Zverev beat Matej Dodig in his first match, then Dino Prizmic 6-4, 6-2, helping Germany secure a spot in the last eight.
Playing in front of a lively home crowd in Halle was great for the 29-year-old, but it also gave him more reason to criticize one of the competition’s rules.
“I hope the Davis Cup decision-makers will realize what the real Davis Cup is. This weekend was the real Cup,” Zverev told reporters. “What we’ll play in Bologna is just not right. I hope the old format comes back.”
Right now, only the two qualifying rounds are done as home or away matches. Then, the final eight teams all go to one city in November.
Before 2019, the Davis Cup’s top level, the World Group, used the home-and-away system all the way through to the final. Then in 2025, the format changed again, getting rid of the Group Stage but bringing back home-and-away ties before the quarter-finals.
Italy earned the right to host the finals in Bologna after winning the title, but Zverev doesn’t like the rule because he believes playing in front of a home crowd is what really makes the Davis Cup special. He said the lively atmosphere in Halle is how the event should always feel.
“What we’ll play in Bologna soon has nothing to do with the Davis Cup. This atmosphere here was the real Davis Cup,” Zverev added.
Zverev has spoken out for years that home-and-away matches should be part of the final stages, so this isn’t new for him. But he still has to deal with the current rule.
Germany hasn’t won the Davis Cup since 1993, when Michael Stich helped beat Australia 4-1. If anyone can break that streak, it’s Zverev, though he hasn’t yet said if he’ll play in the final in Bologna. He mentioned there’s still plenty of time before then and he has a busy schedule ahead.
“There are still two months until Bologna. I’ve got many tournaments to play before that,” he said.
Next up, Zverev will try to win his first China Open title when the tournament begins next week, kicking off the Asian part of the tennis season.