The Baseline Top 5: Future Davis Cup contenders

This weekend's Davis Cup semifinals presents a mix of teams with a rich history in the competition (Australia and France) and those whose success has come only recently (Serbia and Belgium).

Which nations could work their way into the upper echelon of the international team event and pose a challenge to those four?

Here's a look at five squads that could be future contenders for the title.

1

With the right mix of youth and experience, Canada can be a threat to win the Davis Cup for years to come. The prospects of teenagers Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime would make any country envious, and could complement the veterans Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil. Daniel Nestor, a legend in men’s doubles, is only missing a Davis Cup title among major titles in his career. The team will surely rally around him next year as he plans to step away from the game in 2018.

2

Much depends on the health of Kei Nishikori, the nation’s most accomplished male player. A solid supporting cast around him is developing, with Yuichi Sugita in the Top 50 now and Taro Daniel—who played an entertaining match against Rafael Nadal at the US Open—on the rise.

3

Age caught up with Russia, one of the most dominant Davis Cup teams of the millennium’s first decade. But now, the youth movement is in full swing as the nation’s Top 3 players are 21 or younger and making waves on the global front, as evidenced by Andrey Rublev’s run to the quarterfinals at this year’s US Open.

4

Like former Davis Cup champions Switzerland and Croatia, Germany can go the two-man-team route and be a force in the international team competition, if need be, as brothers Alexander and Mischa Zverev could give anyone a run for their money. Luckily, the squad has depth to it perhaps not seen since its title-winning days back in the 1980s.

5

Another former ‘80s powerhouse, Sweden, is back on the upswing. Brothers Elias, 21, and Mikael Ymer, 19, are climbing up the singles rankings and have had success in doubles, too, winning the title last year in Stockholm.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias