Argentina is set to take on Norway as the 2025 Davis Cup begins with the Qualifiers first round. 

After ending an eight-year Finals drought in 2024, the Halcones (Falcons), as the tennis team is known, look to start the new season on the right foot in Oslo. 

The spotlight will be on new team captain Javier Frana. The 58-year-old is a former top-30 ATP singles ranked player and bronze doubles medallist in Barcelona 1992. He assumed the role after a lengthy career as a commentator. Frana takes over from former world number three Guillermo Coria, who brought the team from the brink of top tier elimination to the finals — although clashes with team member and doubles world number one Horacio Zeballos dampened his leadership.

A possible challenge could stem from the absence of Argentina’s two best-ranked tennis players, Francisco Cerúndolo (29 ATP singles) and Sebastián Báez (31). The latter was kept on the sidelines by Frana to nurse a recovering sprain, while the former dropped out at the last minute due to an Achilles injury.

The role of lead singles player fell to Tomás Etcheverry (42), with Mariano Navone (49) as his foil. Zeballos will return for the doubles, pairing up with Andrés Molteni (22 ATP doubles).

“Being the lead singles player feels different,” said Etcheverry, age 25, who is from La Plata. “The pressure is bigger, but I played all the series last year so I feel ready for this role. We’re here to win, and we’re confident we can get a good result.”

Norway’s biggest star is three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud, currently world number five. He’s joined by Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (506), a 19-year-old who was recently number one in the ITF Juniors rankings, with Viktor Durasovic (292) joining him in the doubles.

“Argentine players are always intense,” Ruud told the press ahead of the matchup. “They don’t have Cerúndolo or Báez, but it’s still a strong team. They’re famous for their passion and they will fight for every point.” 

The Norwegian added that it was a special feeling playing Argentina, since he won his first-ever ATP Tour title in Buenos Aires in 2022.

The series will be played in Oslo, at the Fjellhamar Arena, an indoor venue. Etcheverry will open the series against Budkov Kjaer on Thursday at 2 p.m. Argentina time. Navone, who’s making his Davis Cup debut, will face Ruud after that match.

On Friday, Zeballos and Molteni will take on Ruud and Durasovic at 12 p.m. If Argentina wins the series 3-0, that will be the last match. Otherwise, matches between Etcheverry v. Ruud and Navone v. Budkov Kjaer will follow.

For Argentina, a win is key to stave off the ghosts of Coria’s early tenure. Victory would see them through to the Qualifiers second round and guarantee a spot in 2026, while a loss means a return to the World Group I play-off in September.

The series will be shown by Argentine sports broadcaster TyC Sports