The Davis Cup's Swansong

While the women battle it out in Charleston, the men are gearing up for the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup -- which is the last time it will be played in this format. (The entire thing will convert to a one-week, one-location, season-ending event in 2019 called the World Cup of Tennis.) Ryan Harrison posted this photo of the American team in Nashville, where they will take on 2017 runners-up Belgium. 

Team USA does some local outreach ...

Everyone's excited about the return of Rafael Nadal, who regained the No. 1 ranking by taking time off to heal and will now lead Spain against Germany. 

Rafa says hi to the opposing coach -- some guy named Boris Becker

Nadal's first Davis Cup appearance was in 2000 ... when he was a flag-bearer!

(Click to enlarge)

Outside the main draw:

Team Ireland heads to Oslo to face Team Norway in the Group II Europe/Africa playoffs

Damir Dzumhur models his team's new T-shirt. Bosnia and Herzegovina plays Slovakia in the Group I Europe/Africa second round

Marius Copil prepares for Romania's tie against Morocco in the Group II Europe/Africa second round

I've never really been that up on the qualifying process. But if the 2019 format will only consist of 18 countries, are these teams battling (under the old set-up) to make that cut next year? 

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