Country Cups (Davis Cup, Fed/BJK Cup)

[skatingfan]

I think it is wrong to let politics into sport at this level - for instance, has anyone called for Israel to be banned from all sporting events? I wouldnt, either. It is a slippery slope, with no end in sight. Dont go there.

Sport at this level is all about politics. Many people have called for Israel to be banned, and Israel is not banned for the same reason that very very countries get banned - politics. Russia & Belarus are banned because they violated the Olympic truce, and the IOC called for them to be banned. When the IOC lifts the ban on those countries the other sports federations will follow suit.

[dryrunguy]

I know it's tangential and different, but Ireland, Netherlands, and Slovenia have all stated that will not participate in Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate. Spain and Iceland are also considering withdrawing for the same reason.

(The big difference here between Eurovision and tennis [or other sports] is the degree to which the Israeli government has aggressively campaigned its own entry in Eurovision during the last 2 years to get out the diaspora/sympathy vote, which severely manipulated the televote scoring. There's no way to do the same in sports because countries don't vote for sporting events in a way that could affect the result.)

Russia has already been banned from Eurovision since it invaded Ukraine, so there will be no additional action to take when Russia invades Poland.

[ti-amie]

Canada wins Davis Cup tie with Israel in empty Halifax stadium
Published: September 13, 2025 at 2:54PM EDT


Fans are barred from attending the Davis Cup World Group I tie between Canada and Israel at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. (Jesse Thomas/CTV Atlantic)

HALIFAX — Canada advanced to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers with a 4-0 win over Israel in a best-of-five tie played in an empty Halifax stadium amid protests.

Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., and Cleeve Harper of Calgary came back from a set down to defeat Jordan Hasson and Ofek Shimanov 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 in Saturday’s first match.

Singles wins by Draxl and Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo on Friday meant the doubles victory sealed Canada’s advancement out of the World Group 1 stage and into next year’s qualifiers for the main Davis Cup tournament.

With victory assured, Canada elected to replace world No. 35 Diallo with Harper for a singles match with Orel Kimhi. Harper, playing in his first Davis Cup tie, completed the Canadian sweep with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win.

Draxl was scheduled to cap the tie with a match against Daniel Cukierman if necessary, but the match was not played.

Tennis Canada made the call earlier this week to hold the matches without spectators or media present, citing safety concerns it said were flagged by local authorities and security agencies.

The streets surrounding the Halifax Common park were closed for about an hour Saturday as a few hundred protesters chanted, sang and waved signs opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

People holding a banner made from a tennis net that read “Don’t play ball” led the demonstration.

Some signs denounced Halifax Mayor Andy Filmore for allowing the event to take place. Friday’s matches were also protested.

About 400 Canadian athletes and academics, including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, had previously urged Tennis Canada to cancel the games.

Earlier this week, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was disappointed the event had to be closed to fans. It referred to the protesters as extremists who silenced “thousands of fans ... who simply wanted to show pride in their country.”

The world’s leading authority on food crises declared famine in Gaza City in August, after months of warnings by aid groups that Israel’s restrictions of food and other aid into Gaza were causing starvation among Palestinian civilians.

Earlier this month, the largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

With files from The Associated Press and Darren Calabrese in Halifax.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press

https://www.tsn.ca/tennis/article/canad ... x-stadium/

[Fastbackss]

Tough draw for the US.

Not sure who else could have taken, but maybe one of the younger guys? Michelsen? Nakashima?

And...maybe should have considered Opelka for the final match?

[ashkor87]

US players dont seem terribly motivated by Davis Cup, BJK Cup.. wonder what the reason is - possible reasons:
1. they are motivated only by money, and DC/BJKC doesnt offer much
2. they lack patriotism, or at least, arent fired up to represent their country
3. they are mildly resentful of the fact that they are being asked to play between big tournaments that are more important to them
4. they dont respect their opponents enough to care about beating them
5.they believe the US has so much depth - why should it be me? there are plenty of others..

what do you think?
I am not myself persuaded by any of them.. what am I missing?

[ponchi101]

You know this story.
In 1995, Pete went to Russia to play DC. He had Courier as a team mate (two time RG winner) and Todd Martin for doubles. You remember that Russia prepared a clay court so slow and drenched it so much in water that the ITF fined them.
Pete won his first match in a grueling 5 setter against Chesnokov; he collapsed by the end, the US trainers having to rush to the court to help him walk out. Then, Courier, expected to win his match, lost to Kafelnikov. So, Captain Gullikson asked Pete if he could play the doubles with Martin, and told them to forget about second serves. Gun all serves as first serves. Pete and Todd won the doubles, and the next day Pete beat Kafelnikov in three.
He returned to the USA and Sports Illustrated had a one page article, in literally the last page of the magazine, about this heroic performance.
Pete said: "if this is what this means for the USA, I am out". And he was.

It cuts both ways. The US stopped caring about DC a long time ago. I also remember one tie that was held in Fort Meyers, Fla. The T-shorts made read "Ft. Myers". Nobody cared.
It is not just the players; it is the entire country. Tennis has become a second rate sport for the general population, so there is no enthusiasm for it.

[Fastbackss]

The crowd was amped this weekend. For certain the doubles team cared. Seemed like Taylor cared. I didn't see any of Francis' matches.

PS - it is spelled Ft Myers, so I am not sure what you mean there?

[ponchi101]

The crowd was amped this weekend. For certain the doubles team cared. Seemed like Taylor cared. I didn't see any of Francis' matches.

PS - it is spelled Ft Myers, so I am not sure what you mean there?

I got it backwards (the T-shirts read Ft Meyers). Txs.

[ashkor87]

The crowd was amped this weekend. For certain the doubles team cared. Seemed like Taylor cared. I didn't see any of Francis' matches.

PS - it is spelled Ft Myers, so I am not sure what you mean there?

and Tiafoe? he has managed 1 win in 8 matches now.

[ashkor87]

Paolini led Italy to a good win over China.. Ukraine is a pretty strong team, too.. let us see what they can do. USA has Pegula and TT, might be enough to win it all..dont know if they have ever teamed up in doubles.

[ti-amie]

‪The Tennis Letter‬
‪@thetennisletter.bsky.social‬
· 2h
Stefanos Tsitsipas replaces Jack Draper in the Six Kings Slam.

Full line-up:

Jannik Sinner.
Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic.
Taylor Fritz.
Alexander Zverev.
Stefanos Tsitsipas.

[ashkor87]

Pegula and Townsend combined well in the critical doubles.. I see Siniakova is playng doubs again with Krejcikova, is it only because TT is busy with BJK?

[ashkor87]

US vs Italy looks like the inevitable finals...I wonder if the US can conjure up a stronger #2 .. Italy has the better doubles team, though both teams are good.. but it will hinge on the #2 singles, looks like. Cocciaretto is beatable but the US needs to get Coco or Anisimova to play. Keys has not done that great at BJK cup in the past.. even if Pegula beats Paolini, which is by no means a sure thing..

[Fastbackss]

US vs Italy looks like the inevitable finals...I wonder if the US can conjure up a stronger #2 .. Italy has the better doubles team, though both teams are good.. but it will hinge on the #2 singles, looks like. Cocciaretto is beatable but the US needs to get Coco or Anisimova to play. Keys has not done that great at BJK cup in the past.. even if Pegula beats Paolini, which is by no means a sure thing..

I missed the Finals, but looking at the results and scores it looked anticlimactic

[ashkor87]

finals are in november, I think