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Belgium edged ahead against France in the opening match at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, as organisers confirmed discussions will be held over the tournament’s future format amid the absence of top players from this year’s event.

The 86th-ranked Raphael Collignon battled back to upset French world number 35 Corentin Moutet 2-6 7-5 7-5, leaving team-mate Zizou Bergs with a chance to secure victory against Arthur Rinderknech later.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz announced earlier on Tuesday that he had withdrawn from Spain’s team because of an injury sustained on Sunday at the ATP Finals.

That left Germany’s Alexander Zverev as the only top-10 men’s singles player competing in this year’s Davis Cup showpiece week.

Both Alcaraz and Sinner have suggested they would be in favour of making the Davis Cup a biennial event.

International Tennis Federation (ITF) chief executive Ross Hutchins told BBC Sport he will consult the sport’s top players to explore what the tournament can do to encourage their participation in the final major event of the season.

“The history of this event is a very, very popular team competition which has been – consistently across the last 125 years – a yearly event,” Hutchins said.

“We have a three-year deal in Bologna, which we are very excited about. Malaga worked very well the last few years as a season-end product – top players playing, amazing narratives – so the question is what’s right moving forward.

“I do have very close relations with the top players and the governing bodies, so I’m going to be having discussions about their points of view.

On the court, Moutet captured the first set against Collignon after racing into a 4-0 lead with a double break of serve.

But the Frenchman had only himself to blame when he was taken to a decider, losing his serve – and the second set – after falling 15-30 behind as an unnecessary trick shot at the net did not come off, with Collignon already walking away from the court.

That proved a costly error as Collignon increased the pressure in the final set, eventually ending Moutet’s resistance in the 12th game after the Belgian had been unable to take his first four break points.

The winning team will play Italy or Austria in the semi-finals on Friday.

On the other half of the draw, Spain meet the Czech Republic, while Argentina face Germany.

Great Britain are not involved this week after losing to Japan in February’s first qualifying round.

But Leon Smith’s side gave themselves a chance of reaching next year’s season-closing event by beating Poland in an away eliminator in September.

Doubles specialists Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, who have recently been crowned year-end world number ones, believe it is imperative that Britain demonstrate they can challenge the elite in 2026.

“We’re an incredibly strong nation and sometimes we get a bit of hate because we have a Slam and the LTA is financially better off than a lot of the federations out there,” Cash told BBC Sport.

“We have a lot of very good players, even below the Davis Cup level, and I think from the standard we’ve got – both singles and doubles – [the Finals] is where we deserve to be. But you have to earn that every year.”

Britain last won the Davis Cup when the talismanic Andy Murray led them to glory in 2015, reaching the semi-finals again in 2019 before quarter-final appearances in 2021 and 2023.

This year’s bid was hampered by British number one Jack Draper, who reached a career-high fourth in the world earlier this season, being ruled out of the Japan tie.

Belgium edged ahead against France in the opening match at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, as organisers confirmed discussions will be held over the tournament’s future format amid the absence of top players from this year’s event.

The 86th-ranked Raphael Collignon battled back to upset French world number 35 Corentin Moutet 2-6 7-5 7-5, leaving team-mate Zizou Bergs with a chance to secure victory against Arthur Rinderknech later.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz announced earlier on Tuesday that he had withdrawn from Spain’s team because of an injury sustained on Sunday at the ATP Finals.

That left Germany’s Alexander Zverev as the only top-10 men’s singles player competing in this year’s Davis Cup showpiece week.

Both Alcaraz and Sinner have suggested they would be in favour of making the Davis Cup a biennial event.

International Tennis Federation (ITF) chief executive Ross Hutchins told BBC Sport he will consult the sport’s top players to explore what the tournament can do to encourage their participation in the final major event of the season.

“The history of this event is a very, very popular team competition which has been – consistently across the last 125 years – a yearly event,” Hutchins said.

“We have a three-year deal in Bologna, which we are very excited about. Malaga worked very well the last few years as a season-end product – top players playing, amazing narratives – so the question is what’s right moving forward.

“I do have very close relations with the top players and the governing bodies, so I’m going to be having discussions about their points of view.

On the court, Moutet captured the first set against Collignon after racing into a 4-0 lead with a double break of serve.

But the Frenchman had only himself to blame when he was taken to a decider, losing his serve – and the second set – after falling 15-30 behind as an unnecessary trick shot at the net did not come off, with Collignon already walking away from the court.

That proved a costly error as Collignon increased the pressure in the final set, eventually ending Moutet’s resistance in the 12th game after the Belgian had been unable to take his first four break points.

The winning team will play Italy or Austria in the semi-finals on Friday.

On the other half of the draw, Spain meet the Czech Republic, while Argentina face Germany.

Great Britain are not involved this week after losing to Japan in February’s first qualifying round.

But Leon Smith’s side gave themselves a chance of reaching next year’s season-closing event by beating Poland in an away eliminator in September.

Doubles specialists Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, who have recently been crowned year-end world number ones, believe it is imperative that Britain demonstrate they can challenge the elite in 2026.

“We’re an incredibly strong nation and sometimes we get a bit of hate because we have a Slam and the LTA is financially better off than a lot of the federations out there,” Cash told BBC Sport.

“We have a lot of very good players, even below the Davis Cup level, and I think from the standard we’ve got – both singles and doubles – [the Finals] is where we deserve to be. But you have to earn that every year.”

Britain last won the Davis Cup when the talismanic Andy Murray led them to glory in 2015, reaching the semi-finals again in 2019 before quarter-final appearances in 2021 and 2023.

This year’s bid was hampered by British number one Jack Draper, who reached a career-high fourth in the world earlier this season, being ruled out of the Japan tie.

Due to the absence of top players from this year’s event, organisers have confirmed discussions will be held regarding the future format of the tournament, which led to Belgium winning against France in the opening match of the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna.

The 86th-ranked Raphael Collignon fought back to defeat Frenchman Corentin Moutet 2-6 7-5 7-5, leaving team-mate Zizou Bergs with a chance to defeat Arthur Rinderknech later.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world’s number one, announced earlier on Tuesday that he had pulled from Spain’s team due to a injury he sustained on Sunday at the ATP Finals.

Alexander Zverev, from Germany, was the only top-10 men’s singles player competing in this year’s Davis Cup showpiece week.

Both Alcaraz and Sinner have voiced their support for making the Davis Cup a biannual event.

Ross Hutchins, the CEO of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), informed BBC Sport that he would consult the sport’s top players to determine how the tournament could promote their participation in the final major event of the year.

According to Hutchins, “this event has always been a very, very popular team competition over the past 125 years,” which is consistent with the format.

We are very excited about our three-year contract in Bologna. The question is: What’s right moving forward because Malaga performed exceptionally well the last few years as a season-end product with top players playing and incredible narratives.

I’m going to be having discussions about their points of view because I have very close relationships with the top players and the governing bodies.

After leading by a double break of serve and racing into a 4-0 lead, Moutet took the first set against Collignon.

The Frenchman, however, was only partially to blame when he was forced to a decider, losing his serve, and losing the second set 15-30 to Collignon for an error that did not come off, with Collignon already leaving the court.

After the Belgian had failed to take his first four break points, Collignon made a costly error by increasing the pressure in the final set, ultimately putting an end to Moutet’s resistance in the 12th game.

On Friday, the winning team will face either Italy or Austria in the semi-finals.

Spain and Germany meet in the other half of the draw, while Argentina and Argentina meet in Germany.

Following their first qualifying round defeat in February to Japan, Great Britain are not participating this week.

Leon Smith’s side defeated Poland in a September away eliminator to give themselves a chance to advance to the season-closing competition next year.

Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, who recently won the year-end world number one, think it is crucial that Britain show they can outsmart the masses in 2026.

We’re a incredibly strong country, but sometimes we get a little hate because we have a Slam, and the LTA is financially more successful than many other federations, Cash said on BBC Sport.

Even at the Davis Cup level, we have a lot of excellent players, and I believe that the Finals is where we should be based on our current standing, both in singles and doubles. However, you must make that money annually.

The British Empire won the Davis Cup in 2015 under the direction of talisman Andy Murray, who then advanced to the semi-finals in 2019 before making quarter-final appearances in 2021 and 2023.

British No. 1 Jack Draper, who finished fourth overall in the world earlier this year, was unable to make the Japan tie.

Due to England’s difficult autumn stretches the squad, hooker Jamie George, wing Tom Roebuck, and center Ollie Lawrence are all suspended from Sunday’s game against Argentina.

The trio all started the 33-19 defeat of New Zealand last weekend, but Roebuck and George both suffered foot issues and George and Lawrence both picked up hamstring injuries.

After missing the victory over the All Blacks, lock Ollie Chessum and center Tommy Freeman are both unavailable.

As Steve Borthwick’s side prepares for an unbeaten autumn, hooker Jamie Blamire, second row Charlie Ewels, and uncapped teenage wing Noah Caluori join the squad.

Caluori scored in England A’s Saturday victory over Spain, who was named in England’s inaugural autumn internationals squad.

Argentina are in London this week after passing through Wales and triumphantly defeating Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday.

England will be prepared for a difficult matchup with the Pumas, according to fly-half George Ford, who helped them win a 2-0 series against Argentina in the summer.

From watching Argentina play in the summer, I know first-hand how talented they are,” Ford said to BBC Sport.

They are a fantastic, passionate, and emotional team, and we need to ensure that we get everything ready for that.

Freddie Steward, a full-back, is still eligible for selection despite failing to receive a head injury during the first half against the All Blacks.

Forwards

Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Saracens), Henry Pollock (Bath Rugby), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cow

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Due to England’s difficult autumn stretches the squad, hooker Jamie George, wing Tom Roebuck, and center Ollie Lawrence are all suspended from Sunday’s game against Argentina.

The trio all started the 33-19 defeat of New Zealand last weekend, but Roebuck and George both suffered foot issues and George and Lawrence both picked up hamstring injuries.

After missing the victory over the All Blacks, lock Ollie Chessum and center Tommy Freeman are both unavailable.

As Steve Borthwick’s side prepares for an unbeaten autumn, hooker Jamie Blamire, second row Charlie Ewels, and uncapped teenage wing Noah Caluori join the squad.

Caluori scored in England A’s Saturday victory over Spain, who was named in England’s inaugural autumn internationals squad.

Argentina are in London this week after passing through Wales and triumphantly defeating Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday.

England will be prepared for a difficult matchup with the Pumas, according to fly-half George Ford, who helped them win a 2-0 series against Argentina in the summer.

From watching Argentina play in the summer, I know first-hand how talented they are,” Ford said to BBC Sport.

They are a fantastic, passionate, and emotional team, and we need to ensure that we get everything ready for that.

Freddie Steward, a full-back, is still eligible for selection despite failing to receive a head injury during the first half against the All Blacks.

Forwards

Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Saracens), Henry Pollock (Bath Rugby), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cow

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