Davis Cup Final 8 draw LIVE: Latest updates as Andy Murray’s Great Britain learn opponents for Malaga
Neal Skupski and Dan Evans helped secure Team GB’s place in Malaga
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Your support makes all the difference.Britain who topped Group B in the Davis Cup after their win over France on Sunday now face Serbia, as the draw for the Final 8 Knockout stage was announced on Tuesday.
Serbia finished second behind Czech Republic, but clinched their place in the Final 8 with a win over Spain. Novak Djokovic beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina just five days after winning the U.S. Open to help Serbia to a 3-0 win over Spain in Valencia. Whoever comes out on top between Serbia and Britain will then face the winner of Italy v Netherlands in the semi-final. Reigning Davis Cup champions Canada will continue their title defence against Finland, who came through as runners-up in Group D after surprise wins over Croatia and the United States, while Canada topped their group ahead of Italy.
The winner of Canada v Finland will take on either Czech Republic or Australia in the semi-final. Australia finished runners-up to Britain. The Final 8 takes place in Malaga, Spain, and begins on Nov.21.
Great Britain take on Serbia in Davis Cup quarter-final
It’s happened! Great Britain will take on Serbia and Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final of the 2023 Davis Cup.
The 2016 edition of the competition saw the same match up, with a 3-2 win in Belgrade securing passage to the semi-final for Great Britain.
They will face the winner of Italy and the Netherlands should they manage to make it past the one-time winners of the competiton.
Behind the scenes: Great Britain celebrate Davis Cup victory over France
Finland to face defending champions Canada
Finland are set to face defending champions Canada in the quarter-final according to Finnish news outlet Yle.
It will be the first time they have competed in this stage of the tournament, after stunning the USA in a 3-0 win.
A tough draw for the underdogs.
Who would Leon Smith choose to take on Novak Djokovic?
One of Leon Smith’s team will almost certainly have to take on Novak Djokovic in a singles tie should they be drawn against Serbia.
The world number one was victorious in two games in the 2010 final to help his team win their first ever Davis Cup, and defeated Crotia’s Marin Cilic in last year’s semi-final.
Norrie, Evans and Draper are all singles options for Smith, but could fans potentially see another classic Murray / Djokovic match?
Great Britain’s Dan Evans on the magic of the Davis Cup
“Davis Cup is why I played tennis at the start,” says Dan Evans.
“I remember watching the Birmingham ties, finishing late on a Sunday night. That was my first introduction to professional tennis really.
“That was the be-all and end-all to play Davis Cup for my country - and it still is. I’m not a nervous person but before you play Davis Cup it is a different feeling.”
Davis Cup 2023: Neal Skupski on Great Britain’s victory over France
“There was no panic,” Neal Skupski said after victory over France.
“We just went to the next point. I knew if we got through that game somehow the momentum was going to swing our way.”
Evans and Skupski likely to form doubles partnership
Neal Skupski is currently ranked third in the world in doubles, and together with Dan Evans forms Great Britain’s current first choice partnership.
Evans has also played 33 singles matches, claiming victory over France’s Arthur Ils and Australia’s Alex De Minaur in the group stages.
Former world number one Andy Murray paired with Joe Salisbury in the 2022 edition of the competiton, but lost in games against The Netherlands and USA.
The Czech Republic and Canada will be drawn against either Australia or Finland
Group winners Czech Republic and Canada will be drawn against either Australia or Finland on the other side of the draw.
Finland finished second in Group D despite winning the same amounts of points as The Netherlands due to losing in their head-to-head match against them.
Great Britain to face either Serbia or Italy in next round
Great Britain will be drawn against either Novak Djokovic’s or Italy when the draw starts at 11am.
Italy made it through Group A without Jannik Sinner or Matteo Berrettini, which shows the level of depth they boast should the pair return for Malaga.
Serbia meanwhile lost all three games against The Czech Republic to finish second in Group C, but of course boast world number one Djokovic, who has won 39 singles matches since his first appearance in the competition in 2004.
Two singles wins from Kyle Edmunds in 2016 saw defending champions Great Britain defeat Serbia in Belgrade in the quarter-final.
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