David Ferrer confirms the true reason why he left Alejandro Davidovich Fokina off Spain’s Davis Cup team

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Team Spain will be without the world number 14 in Bologna later this month…

Captain David Ferrer picked Pedro Martinez ahead of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for this year’s Davis Cup Finals.

The decision was met with confusion, given the success Davidovich Fokina has enjoyed on tour in 2025.

Reacting to the news, Davidovich Fokina said he ‘deserved’ to be picked, but insisted he’d remain available for next year’s event.

With the 2025 edition now just weeks away, Ferrer has explained why he left the Spanish number two out of his side.

David Ferrer says Alejandro Davidovich Fokina ‘ruled himself out’ of Davis Cup contention

Speaking to Spanish media, Ferrer revealed why Davidovich Fokina wasn’t selected for the Davis Cup finals squad in Bologna.

“He told me, ‘If I don’t make the first list (team), don’t speak to me, so that’s why he is ruled out of playing in Bologna,” he said.

“It’s something I have to accept, but of course, Alejandro [Davidovich Fokina] is a great player, he is 14 in the world, he could be an important player for us, but he ruled himself out.”

After missing out on the initial four-man squad, Davidovich Fokina could have seen himself added as the fifth man, but according to Ferrer, he wasn’t interested.

Team Spain’s 2025 Davis Cup Finals squad

• David Ferrer (Captain)
• Carlos Alcaraz
• Jaume Munar
• Pedro Martinez
• Marcel Granollers
• Pablo Carreno Busta

Davidovich Fokina missed Spain’s first Davis Cup tie of the year against Switzerland and was absent again when they took on Denmark.

It was his second withdrawal that pushed Ferrer to make a decision.

“After Switzerland, we sorted things out and then had a break of three to four months. After the US Open, he comes back to me and says that he is not going to play [vs Denmark] because he has an issue. At the end of the day, what can I do?” said Ferrer.

“I understand that the player has a busy calendar and can make his own decisions, but so do I, and as captain, I have to make my own decisions.

“I think Pedro [Martinez] and Jaume [Munar] deserved to be in the team from what they’ve done. We are in the finals, and a big part of that is what they have done.”

Following both of his withdrawals, Davidovich Fokina was seen in ATP Tour action shortly after, something that may well have frustrated his Davis Cup captain.

Looking to move on from the selection drama, Ferrer and Team Spain will head to Turin searching for their first title in six years.

Who will Team Spain play in their Davis Cup quarterfinal match?

Spain will play another pre-tournament favorite, Czechia, in their Davis Cup quarterfinal.

Team Czechia’s 2025 Davis Cup Finals squad

• Tomas Berdych (Coach)
• Jiri Lehecka
• Jakub Mensik
• Tomas Machac
• Vit Kopriva
• Adam Pavlasek

Led by former Grand Slam finalist Tomas Berdych, the Czechs will no doubt be on the hunt for an upset in the quarterfinals.

Having knocked out Team USA on their way to Bologna, Jiri Lehecka and co. won’t be afraid of the star power Carlos Alcaraz provides.

Beating Czechia will be tough, but if Spain were to advance, they may have a slightly easier time of things against either Argentina or Germany in the last four.

Then, in the final, Italy, Austria, France, or Belgium would stand between Spain and a seventh Davis Cup victory.

They won’t want to get ahead of themselves thinking about the final just yet, however, as they first focus on their quarterfinal match.

The 2025 Davis Cup Finals are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, November 18, in Bologna, Italy.