Holders of the title but excluded from international competitions due to the war in Ukraine, Russia will finally be replaced by Serbia in the final phase of the Davis Cup next September, according to an announcement from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Monday.
Serbia, chosen because it was “the highest ranked team of semi-finalists in 2021”, had already received an invitation to enter this final phase directly without going through the qualifications, so it is another nation – “announced in due time ” – who will receive the invitation initially given to the team of Novak Djokovic, specifies the body. In the Billie Jean King Cup (ex-Fed Cup), Russia, also defending champions, will be replaced by Australia, chosen on the same terms as Serbia.