The Davis Cup is an annual international team event in men's tennis. Established in 1900 as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge, it is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), who describe it as the "World Cup of tennis."[1] The first event in 1900 was a match between Great Britain and the United States,[2] while 135 nations entered the 2016 Davis Cup.[3]
Current season, competition or edition: 2022 Davis Cup | |
 | |
| Sport | Tennis |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1900 |
| Founder | Dwight F. Davis |
| No. of teams | 16 (World Group) 135 (2021 total) |
| Countries | ITF member nations |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Italy |
| Most titles |  United States(32 titles) |
| Official website | daviscup.com |
The tournament sees players competing for their country in four singles and one doubles matches, known as rubbers, over the course of three days, with the team that wins three rubbers progressing.[4] The countries are divided into groups based upon their location or performance in previous years. The Davis Cup World Group is the top level of the competition and features matches between players from the top 16 countries at the start of the year.[3] Countries that lose their first round match face a relegation play-off against winning countries from the continental zones. World Group winning countries progress to the quarter-finals. Nations have to win a further three ties in order to claim the position of Davis Cup champions.[3]The United States are the most successful nation in the history of the competition, with 32 victories. Australia are second with 28 (individually or in a combined Australasia team) and Great Britain and France are tied for third with 10. Teams from Europe have won the competition the most with 48 victories, followed by North America with 33 and Oceania with 28.[5]
History
The Davis Cup was founded in 1900 as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge. Four members of Harvard University wished to challenge Great Britain in a tennis competition. One of the American players, Dwight F. Davis, designed a tournament format and ordered a sterling silver trophy from Shreve, Crump & Low for approximately $1,000.[6] The first match, held at Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, Massachusetts, was won by the American team 3–0.[7] There was no match the following year, but the United States retained the trophy in 1902, beating Great Britain 3–2. This was followed by four successive victories for Britain, from 1903 to 1906. The 1904 Davis Cup saw new teams compete for the first time, as Belgium and France entered.[8]
Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) became the first victors outside of Britain and the United States when they won the tournament in 1907.[9] No tournament was held in 1910 as no country challenged Australasia,[10] who retained the trophy until 1912 when they were defeated by Great Britain.[11] The United States and Australasia won the two competitions prior to the outbreak of the First World War, in 1914. The tournament resumed in 1919, with Australasia retaining the trophy, beating Great Britain 4–1.[12] The Americans won the following seven tournaments before they were defeated 3–2 by France in 1927.[13] The tournament underwent restructuring for the 1923 edition. Teams were split into two zones; the 'America Zone' and 'Europe Zone', with the winners playing each other to determine who would face the defending champions.[14]
The French won a further five successive tournaments before they were beaten 3–2 by Great Britain in 1933.[15] Australia were the last winners before the onset of the Second World War. They beat the United States 3–2 in 1939.[16] Upon resumption of the tournament in 1946, it was renamed the Davis Cup after the death of Dwight D. Davis in 1945.[17] The United States regained the title after they beat Australia 5–0.[18] They retained the title until 1950 when Australia won 4–1. This marked the start of Australian dominance of the Davis Cup, as they only lost three times from 1950 to 1967.[19] Prior to 1972, the champion received a bye directly to the final.[1]
The 1974 Davis Cup marked the first time that neither Australia or the United States won the final since 1936, as South Africa and India were the finalists.[20] However, the Indian team refused to travel to South Africa in protest at the South African government's apartheid policies, meaning that the final was scratched and South Africa were awarded the Davis Cup.[21] Sweden beat Czechoslovakia 3–2 the following year to become the first European nation since 1936 to win the Davis Cup.
The Davis Cup underwent further reorganisation in 1981 when a 16-team World Group was introduced. The remaining nations were split into regional groups with promotion and relegation to and from the World Group.[1]
Sweden reached two more finals in 1988 and 1989, but lost both times to West Germany.[22][23] The United States regained the title in 1990,[24] but they lost 3–1 to France the following year.[25] They regained the title a year later, but could not defend it in 1993 as Germany won. Sweden were victorious in 1994, and they won a further two Davis Cups in 1997 and 1998.[26] Australia regained the Davis Cup in 1999,[27] but they lost the following two finals to Spain and France respectively.[28][29] Russia won their first Davis Cup in 2002,[30] before Australia regained the title the following year.[31] Spain won the tournament for the second time in 2004,[32] and would win a further three titles in 2008, 2009 and 2011.[33] The Czech Republic won successive Davis Cups in 2012 and 2013,[34] before Switzerland won their first title in 2014.[35] In 2015, Great Britain ended the longest drought in the competition's history, 73 years, when they won their first Davis Cup since 1936, beating Belgium 3–1.[5] [36]
Finals
| * | Title won by away country |
| G | Grass |
| C | Clay |
| CP | Carpet |
| H | Hard |
| Ix | Indoor |
- The "Year" column refers to the year the Davis Cup tournament was held, and wikilinks to the article about that tournament.
- Links in the "Winners" and "Runners-up" columns point to the articles for the national teams of the countries, not the articles for the countries.
| Inter-Zonal winner, Challenge round winner ‡ |
| Defending champion, Challenge round winner † |
| Single round ◊ |
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Finals venue (surface) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 |  United States ◊ | 3–0 |  British Isles | Longwood Cricket Club (G) | Boston, United States |
| 1902 | United States ◊ | 3–2 | British Isles | Crescent Athletic Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1903 | British Isles ◊ | 4–1* | United States | Longwood Cricket Club (G) | Boston, United States |
| 1904 | British Isles † | 5–0 |  Belgium | Worple Road (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1905 | British Isles † | 5–0 | United States | Queen's Club (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1906 | British Isles † | 5–0 | United States | Worple Road (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1907 |  Australasia ‡ | 3–2* | British Isles | Worple Road (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1908 | Australasia † | 3–2 |  United States | Albert Ground (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1909 | Australasia † | 5–0 | United States | Double Bay Grounds (G) | Sydney, Australia |
| 1911 | Australasia † | 4–0 | United States | Lancaster Park (G) | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| 1912 | British Isles ‡ | 3–2* | Australasia | Albert Ground (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1913 |  United States ‡ | 3–2* | Great Britain | Worple Road (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1914 | Australasia ‡ | 3–2* | United States | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1919 | Australasia ‡ | 4–1 | Great Britain | Double Bay Grounds (G) | Sydney, Australia |
| 1920 | United States ‡ | 5–0* | Australasia | Domain Cricket Club (G) | Auckland, New Zealand |
| 1921 | United States † | 5–0 |  Japan | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1922 | United States † | 4–1 | Australasia | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1923 | United States † | 4–1 |  Australia | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1924 | United States † | 5–0 | Australia | Germantown Cricket Club (G) | Philadelphia, United States |
| 1925 | United States † | 5–0 |  France | Germantown Cricket Club (G) | Philadelphia, United States |
| 1926 | United States † | 4–1 | France | Germantown Cricket Club (G) | Philadelphia, United States |
| 1927 | France ‡ | 3–2* | United States | Germantown Cricket Club (G) | Philadelphia, United States |
| 1928 | France † | 4–1 | United States | Stade Roland Garros (C) | Paris, France |
| 1929 | France † | 3–2 | United States | Stade Roland Garros (C) | Paris, France |
| 1930 | France † | 4–1 | United States | Stade Roland Garros (C) | Paris, France |
| 1931 | France † | 3–2 | Great Britain | Stade Roland Garros (C) | Paris, France |
| 1932 | France † | 3–2 | United States | Stade Roland Garros (C) | Paris, France |
| 1933 | Great Britain ‡ | 3–2* | France | Stade Roland Garros (C) | Paris, France |
| 1934 | Great Britain † | 4–1 | United States | Centre Court, Wimbledon (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1935 | Great Britain † | 5–0 | United States | Centre Court, Wimbledon (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1936 | Great Britain † | 3–2 | Australia | Centre Court, Wimbledon (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1937 | United States ‡ | 4–1* | Great Britain | Centre Court, Wimbledon (G) | London, United Kingdom |
| 1938 | United States † | 3–2 | Australia | Germantown Cricket Club (G) | Philadelphia, United States |
| 1939 | Australia ‡ | 3–2* | United States | Merion Cricket Club (G) | Haverford, United States |
| 1946 | United States ‡ | 5–0* | Australia | Kooyong Stadium (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1947 | United States † | 4–1 | Australia | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1948 | United States † | 5–0 | Australia | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1949 | United States † | 4–1 | Australia | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1950 | Australia ‡ | 4–1* | United States | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1951 | Australia † | 3–2 | United States | White City Stadium (G) | Sydney, Australia |
| 1952 | Australia † | 4–1 | United States | Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (G) | Adelaide, Australia |
| 1953 | Australia † | 3–2 | United States | Kooyong Stadium (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1954 | United States ‡ | 3–2* | Australia | White City Stadium (G) | Sydney, Australia |
| 1955 | Australia ‡ | 5–0* | United States | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1956 | Australia † | 5–0 | United States | Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (G) | Adelaide, Australia |
| 1957 | Australia † | 3–2 | United States | Kooyong Stadium (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1958 | United States ‡ | 3–2* | Australia | Milton Courts (G) | Brisbane, Australia |
| 1959 | Australia ‡ | 3–2* |  United States | West Side Tennis Club (G) | New York City, United States |
| 1960 | Australia † | 4–1 | Italy | White City Stadium (G) | Sydney, Australia |
| 1961 | Australia † | 5–0 | Italy | Kooyong Stadium (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1962 | Australia † | 5–0 |  Mexico | Milton Courts (G) | Brisbane, Australia |
| 1963 | United States ‡ | 3–2* | Australia | Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (G) | Adelaide, Australia |
| 1964 | Australia ‡ | 3–2* | United States | Harold Clark Courts (C) | Cleveland, United States |
| 1965 | Australia † | 4–1 |  Spain | White City Stadium (G) | Sydney, Australia |
| 1966 | Australia † | 4–1 |  India | Kooyong Stadium (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1967 | Australia † | 4–1 | Spain | Milton Courts (G) | Brisbane, Australia |
| 1968 | United States ‡ | 4–1* | Australia | Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (G) | Adelaide, Australia |
| 1969 | United States † | 5–0 |  Romania | Harold Clark Courts (H) | Cleveland, United States |
| 1970 | United States † | 5–0 |  West Germany | Harold Clark Courts (H) | Cleveland, United States |
| 1971 | United States † | 3–2 | Romania | Olde Providence Racquet Club (C) | Charlotte, United States |
| 1972 | United States | 3–2* | Romania | Club Sportiv Progresul (C) | Bucharest, Romania |
| 1973 | Australia | 5–0* | United States | Public Auditorium (ICp) | Cleveland, United States |
| 1974 |  South Africa | w/o | India | — | — |
| 1975 |  Sweden | 3–2 |  Czechoslovakia | Kungliga tennishallen (ICp) | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 1976 | Italy | 4–1* |  Chile | Estadio Nacional (C) | Santiago, Chile |
| 1977 | Australia | 3–1 | Italy | White City Stadium (G) | Sydney, Australia |
| 1978 | United States | 4–1 | Great Britain | Mission Hills CC (H) | Rancho Mirage, United States |
| 1979 | United States | 5–0 | Italy | Civic Auditorium (ICp) | San Francisco, United States |
| 1980 | Czechoslovakia | 4–1 | Italy | Sportovní Hala (ICp) | Prague, Czechoslovakia |
| 1981 | United States | 3–1 |  Argentina | Riverfront Coliseum (ICp) | Cincinnati, United States |
| 1982 | United States | 4–1* | France | Palais des Sports (IC) | Grenoble, France |
| 1983 | Australia | 3–2 | Sweden | Kooyong Stadium (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1984 | Sweden | 4–1 | United States | Scandinavium (IC) | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| 1985 | Sweden | 3–2* | West Germany | Olympiahalle (ICp) | Munich, West Germany |
| 1986 | Australia | 3–2 | Sweden | Kooyong Stadium (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 1987 | Sweden | 5–0 | India | Scandinavium (IC) | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| 1988 | West Germany | 4–1* | Sweden | Scandinavium (IC) | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| 1989 | West Germany | 3–2 | Sweden | Schleyerhalle (ICp) | Stuttgart, West Germany |
| 1990 | United States | 3–2 | Australia | Suncoast Dome (IC) | St. Petersburg, United States |
| 1991 | France | 3–1 | United States | Palais des Sports de Gerland (ICp) | Lyon, France |
| 1992 | United States | 3–1 |  Switzerland | Tarrant County Center (IH) | Fort Worth, United States |
| 1993 | Germany | 4–1 | Australia | Messe Düsseldorf Exhibition Hall (IC) | Düsseldorf, Germany |
| 1994 | Sweden | 4–1* |  Russia | Olympic Stadium (ICp) | Moscow, Russia |
| 1995 | United States | 3–2* | Russia | Olympic Stadium (IC) | Moscow, Russia |
| 1996 | France | 3–2* | Sweden | Malmö Isstadion (IH) | Malmö, Sweden |
| 1997 | Sweden | 5–0 | United States | Scandinavium (ICp) | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| 1998 | Sweden | 4–1* | Italy | Forum (IC) | Milan, Italy |
| 1999 | Australia | 3–2* | France | Acropolis Exhibition Hall (IC) | Nice, France |
| 2000 |  Spain | 3–1 | Australia | Palau Sant Jordi (IC) | Barcelona, Spain |
| 2001 | France | 3–2* | Australia | Rod Laver Arena (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 2002 | Russia | 3–2* | France | Palais Omnisports (IC) | Paris, France |
| 2003 | Australia | 3–1 | Spain | Rod Laver Arena (G) | Melbourne, Australia |
| 2004 | Spain | 3–2 | United States | Estadio de La Cartuja (IC) | Seville, Spain |
| 2005 |  Croatia | 3–2* |  Slovakia | Sibamac Arena (IH) | Bratislava, Slovakia |
| 2006 | Russia | 3–2 | Argentina | Olympic Stadium (ICp) | Moscow, Russia |
| 2007 | United States | 4–1 | Russia | Memorial Coliseum (IH) | Portland, United States |
| 2008 | Spain | 3–1* | Argentina | Polideportivo Islas Malvinas (IH) | Mar del Plata, Argentina |
| 2009 | Spain | 5–0 | Czech Republic | Palau Sant Jordi (IC) | Barcelona, Spain |
| 2010 |  Serbia | 3–2 | France | Belgrade Arena (IH) | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 2011 | Spain | 3–1 | Argentina | Estadio de La Cartuja (IC) | Seville, Spain |
| 2012 | Czech Republic | 3–2 | Spain | O2 Arena (IH) | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 2013 | Czech Republic | 3–2* | Serbia | Kombank Arena (IH) | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 2014 | Switzerland | 3–1* | France | Stade Pierre-Mauroy (IC) | Lille, France |
| 2015 | Great Britain | 3–1* | Belgium | Flanders Expo (IC) | Ghent, Belgium |
| 2016 | Argentina | 3–2* | Croatia | Arena Zagreb (IH) | Zagreb, Croatia |
| 2017 | France | 3–2 | Belgium | Stade Pierre-Mauroy (IH) | Lille, France |
| 2018 | Croatia | 3–1* | France | Stade Pierre-Mauroy (IC) | Lille, France |
| 2019 | Spain | 2–0 |  Canada | Caja Mágica (IH) | Madrid, Spain |
| 2021[a] |  RTF[b] | 2–0 | Croatia | Madrid Arena (IH) | Madrid, Spain |
| 2022 | Canada | 2–0 | Australia | Martin Carpena Arena (IH) | Málaga, Spain |
| 2023 | Italy | 2–0 | Australia | Martin Carpena Arena (IH) | Málaga, Spain |
Victories by team
All-time
| Country | Titles | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 32 | 1900 | 2007 |
| Australia Australasia | 28 | 1907 | 2003 |
| Great Britain | 10 | 1903 | 2015 |
| France | 10 | 1927 | 2017 |
| Sweden | 7 | 1975 | 1998 |
| Spain | 6 | 2000 | 2019 |
| Czechoslovakia Czech Republic | 3 | 1980 | 2013 |
| West Germany Germany | 3 | 1988 | 1993 |
| Russia RTF | 3 | 2002 | 2021 |
| Italy | 2 | 1976 | 2023 |
| Croatia | 2 | 2005 | 2018 |
 South Africa | 1 | 1974 | |
| Serbia | 1 | 2010 | |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2014 | |
| Argentina | 1 | 2016 | |
| Canada | 1 | 2022 | |
Since 1972
| Country | Titles | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 9 | 1972 | 2007 |
| Sweden | 7 | 1975 | 1998 |
| Australia | 6 | 1973 | 2003 |
| Spain | 6 | 2000 | 2019 |
| France | 4 | 1991 | 2017 |
| West Germany Germany | 3 | 1988 | 1993 |
| Czechoslovakia Czech Republic | 3 | 1980 | 2013 |
| Russia RTF | 3 | 2002 | 2021 |
| Italy | 2 | 1976 | 2023 |
| Croatia | 2 | 2005 | 2018 |
| South Africa | 1 | 1974 | |
| Serbia | 1 | 2010 | |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2014 | |
| Great Britain | 1 | 2015 | |
| Argentina | 1 | 2016 | |
| Canada | 1 | 2022 | |
Victories by continent
| Continent | Wins |
|---|---|
| Europe | 48 |
| North America | 33 |
| Oceania | 28 |
| South America | 1 |
| Africa | 1 |