USA

World ranking: 4

Team:

• Taylor Fritz (world No.12)
• Frances Tiafoe (world No.26)
• Tommy Paul (world No.34)
• Rajeev Ram (Doubles: world No.2)
• Jack Sock (Doubles: world No.41)
• Captain - Mardy Fish

History: The USA are the most successful team in Davis Cup history having won the trophy 32 times since they first competed back in 1900. Their last title however, came back in 2007, when Andy Roddick, James Blake and Bob and Mike Bryan stormed to a 4-1 win over Russia.

2021 performance: Having beaten Uzbekistan comfortably in qualifiers, the USA lost both their group stage matches in the Finals to Italy and Colombia, 2-1.

Journey to the Finals: The Americans got their revenge against the Colombians back in March, as they stormed to a resounding 4-0 win – losing just one set along the way.

Players to watch: USA’s top ranked singles player Taylor Fritz is a player on the rise and will be all too familiar for British tennis fans as a two-time champion at the Rothesay International Eastbourne. The world No.12 broke new ground earlier this year, winning his first ATP Masters title in Indian Wells after defeating Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6(5) – ending the Spaniard’s unbeaten reign to start the season. 

Another player to keep an eye on is the experienced doubles star Rajeev Ram, who is currently the world No.2. The 38-year-old is the regular partner of Britain’s Joe Salisbury, so it will be interesting to see how the pair do facing off against one another.

Kazakhstan

Ranking: 9

Team:

• Alexander Bublik (world No.47)
• Dmitry Popko (world No.232)
• Mikhail Kukushkin (world No.214)
• Andrey Golubev (Doubles: world No.46)
• Aleksandr Nedovyesov (Doubles: world No.58)
• Captain - Yuriy Schukin

History: Kazakhstan first played in the Davis Cup back in 1995, but it took 16 years before they reached World Group. Since then, their best result has been a quarter-finals appearance on six occasions.

2021 performance: Their last quarter-final came in 2021, after beating Sweden and a 3-0 upset over Canada in the group stages. In the final eight, they were faced with the challenge of taking on Novak Djokovic’s Serbia, losing out 2-1.

Journey to the Finals: Despite losing the opening rubber in their qualifying match against Norway, Kazakhstan eventually came through as 3-1 winners, thanks to victory from their top ranked player against French Open runner-up, Casper Ruud.

Players to watch: World No.47 Alexander Bublik is one to watch wherever he’s playing. You never know what you’re going to get with Bublik, who is renowned for his flair and attacking style on the court. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a good season so far, where he’s won his first career title in Marseille – defeating Alexander Zverev in the final – and having reached the final in Newport back in July.

Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesovare Kazakhstan’s all-time leading doubles pair, having won seven rubbers together as a team, representing their country.

Netherlands

Ranking: 20

Team:

• Botic van de Zandschlup (world No.22)
• Tallon Griekspoor (world No.46)
• Tim van Rijthoven (world No.117)
• Wesley Koolhof (Doubles: world No.4)
• Matwe Middelkoop (Doubles: world No.25)
• Captain - Paul Haarhuis

History: The Netherlands first competed in the Davis Cup back in 1920, but had to wait over 80 years before achieving their best result – reaching the semi-finals in 2001.

2021 performance: The Dutch side defeated Uruguay 4-0 to retain their place in the World Group and to book a spot in the qualifying rounds for this year’s finals.

Journey to the Finals: In the qualifiers, the Dutch team completed a whitewash 4-0 victory over a young Canadian team without losing a single set.

Players to watch: Botic van de Zandschlup broke on to the scene last year having come through qualifying at the US Open to reach the quarter-finals – beating Casper Ruud and Diego Schwartzman along the way. Since then, he has risen to No.22 in the world with a final appearance in Munich and semi-finals at the cinch Championships and Winston-Salem Open. He also reached the fourth round of Wimbledon this year before bowing out to Nadal.

But it’s the doubles where the Netherlands post the biggest threat. World No.4 Wesley Koolhof and No.25 Matwe Middelkoop form a formidable pair, capable of beating anyone on their day. Koolhof – the usual partner of Britain’s Neal Skupski – has won six titles already this season, including two Masters crowns in Madrid and Montreal.