At the US Open, Spain underlined the fact that they are one of the world's great powers in men's tennis. Carlos Alcaraz won the men's singles title comfortably, while doubles specialist Marcel Grannollers won the men's doubles series with his Argentinian partner.
Both players will, however, be absent, along with World No. 16, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, when the Spanish Davis Cup squad face Denmark on Saturday and Sunday in a direct duel for a place among the world's eight best nations at the Davis Cup Finals.
Carlos Alcaraz has given "muscular and mental fatigue" after the US Open as the reason for his cancellation. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is not going to Marbella because of "fatigue and a very busy tournament calendar", says the Spanish Tennis Federation on their website.
Granollers' cancellation has come so late that he will not be replaced, and therefore Spain will field only four players. This means that the Spaniards must make up their doubles constellation with players who normally play singles.
The six-time champions will field Jaume Munar, Pedro Martinez, Roberto Carballes Baena and Pablo Carreno Busta while Denmark travel to Marbella with their strongest squad including Holger Rune, Elmer Moller, August Holmgren, Christian Sigsgaard and Johannes Ingildsen.
At time of writing, Spain is currently 7th in the ranking, with Denmark ranked 18th, so Spain goes into the tournament as favorites. Spain and Denmark have faced each other six times in the history of the Davis Cup, with Spain leading 3-2.