"Does a giant house with a 100-inch TV not exist in Europe? I don’t get it": Carlos Alcaraz living room photo leaves Querrey, Johnson and Isner puzzled

Italy’s dominance in the Davis Cup continues, with a historic three-peat championship that highlights the depth of talent and resilience in the team. Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, and John Isner reflected on the tournament, sharing insight into standout performances, memorable moments, and the challenges facing the Davis Cup format.

Before the tournament, Carlos Alcaraz captured the attention of the tennis world—not with a winning shot, but a picture of himself at home watching Spain take on Germany. The photo revealed a modest living room, surprising many fans who expected a lavish backdrop.

Steve Johnson remarked, “It looks exactly how it should. If you watched his Netflix documentary, this is what his house was like. He still lives at home with his parents. He’s got a small bedroom and does his workouts there. It’s crazy to me. I feel like they could have a bigger, more comfortable space, but this is very European.”

Sam Querrey noted the understated presence of trophies in the background, while John Isner added, “There’s no flex! Plastic wrap on the table, trophies in no order. He just put them up quickly.”

The trio compared it to Rafael Nadal’s similar humility, highlighting a culture among European players that contrasts sharply with the ostentatious lifestyles often associated with American athletes. Johnson summarized the sentiment: “Does a giant house with a 100-inch TV not exist in Europe? I don’t get it.”

Italy’s triumph in the Davis Cup was remarkable, achieved without their top stars, Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti. Cobolli and Berrettini anchored the team, delivering standout performances. Cobolli’s semifinal against Zizou Bergs was particularly dramatic, winning 7–6, 17–15 in the third-set tiebreak, saving six match points on the way to victory.

Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson praised the performance: “That match alone lifted Cobolli to higher stardom in Italy," siad Querrey as Johnson added to the debate. "But Berrettini—you can’t count him out. He hasn’t lost a Davis Cup singles match this decade. Ten straight wins. He steps up when it counts.”

The scheduling added to the challenge, with players required to compete on consecutive days. Johnson emphasized the importance of home support, noting that the atmosphere in Italy helped Cobolli overcome exhaustion: “If that wasn’t a home tie, I don’t know if he has the juice to get out of that match. The crowd carried him.”

John Isner weighed in on the broader implications for the Davis Cup, particularly regarding top-10 player participation. This year, only Alexander Zverev appeared among the top ten, with Sinner, Alcaraz, and Musetti absent.

“It’s tough for top players. They come straight from the World Tour Finals or indoor tournaments like Paris,” Isner explained. “They need a break before the next season. Tennis is star-driven—you need these guys. Maybe having Davis Cup every other year would make it more prestigious and manageable.”

Steve Johnson added that a single-location format with home ties for early rounds could strike a balance between tradition and practicality: “You’d need one single event every other year. Sixteen teams at one site. If you win your first round, you’re automatically in the next edition. But home ties are still important for atmosphere.”

The hosts also discussed moments of individual flair and missteps, such as Corentin Moutet’s infamous drop-shot attempt against Belgium. After a sequence of risky plays—including an underhanded overhead attempt—Moutet lost the set and struggled to regain composure.

Sam Querrey remarked, “Imagine one of you guys trying that for your country. You’d get demolished.” Steve Johnson added, “You can still be upset, but you can’t be surprised. That’s who he is. If he makes that shot, it probably fires him up.” Isner concluded, “You can’t pick him and then tell him the shenanigans that make him good are off-limits. That’s what makes him good.”