Bu Yunchaokete  Photo: VCG

China's top-ranked tennis player Bu Yunchaokete will take on Henrique Rocha in the opening matchup of the 2026 Davis Cup World Group I playoffs between China and Portugal, according to the draw held in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province on Thursday.

With a history spanning more than a century, the Davis Cup is widely regarded as the "World Cup" of men's team tennis. A win in this tie would see China qualify for the World Group I competition to be held in September. The World Group I playoffs follow a best-of-five format played over two days from Friday to Saturday. 

China has fielded its strongest lineup in history, including Bu, Wu Yibing and Zhang Zhizhen. 

Bu is currently ranked world No.139, the top ranked Chinese player. At the recently concluded Australian Open, both Wu and Shang Juncheng advanced to the second round. Zhang brings the most extensive doubles experience and the strongest record on the team. He has reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam doubles event, claimed a tour-level doubles title, and is also a silver medalist in mixed doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Wu will face Portugal's top ranked player Nuno Borges in the second match on Friday. Saturday's play starts with a doubles game between Chinese pair Zhang and Zhou Yi and Portugal's Borges and Francisco Cabral. The following singles matchups pit Bu against Borges and Wu against Rocha. 

Portugal is the higher-ranked side but local support often plays an important role in Davis Cup ties. Zhang's experience and the doubles strategy could be a crucial swing factor if the tie is tight after the first day's singles. The tie may go down to the wire, Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. 

China's captain Wu Di told reporters at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday that the Chinese team has attached great importance to this tie and he hopes the players can show everyone their best form. 

"With strong support from local fans, the atmosphere in this area is especially good. At the recently concluded National Games, these players delivered outstanding performances, and considering all these factors, I believe the conditions are in our favor for this tie," said Wu. 

At the men's singles final of the 15th National Games in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in November, Wu Yibing claimed his first National Games title after defeating Shang. 

Zhou, 24, told reporters that he is very happy and excited having returned to Nansha this time to represent the national team. "I have a fairly good win rate in the Davis Cup, and I'm feeling quite confident at the moment. From the end of last year through the beginning of this year, my form has been pretty solid, and I'm satisfied with my results and overall level this season. So let's see how things turn out this time," said Zhou. 

Back in 2024 in Guangzhou, Zhou had lifted China to a 3-2 win over Slovenia to reach the ­Davis Cup World Group II finals. 

In recent years, China has made notable strides at the Davis Cup. In February 2025, the Chinese team secured a 4-0 home victory over Montenegro in the World Group II playoffs to advance, before defeating Ireland 3-1 away in September to book a place in the World Group I playoffs.