List of Davis Cup champions explained

Current Season:2022 Davis Cup
Pixels:200px
Sport:Tennis
Founder:Dwight F. Davis
Teams:16 (World Group)
135 (2021 total)
Countries:ITF member nations
Most Champs:
(32 titles)
Website:daviscup.com

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]

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. 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.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.

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.

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. [36]

Finals

Key
Title won by away country
GGrass
CClay
CPCarpet
HHard
IxIndoor
Key
 ‡
 †
 ◊
Davis Cup finals[37]
scope=colYearscope=colWinnerscope=colScorescope=colRunner-upscope=colFinals venue (surface)scope=colLocation
19003–0Longwood Cricket Club (G)Boston, United States
19023–2Crescent Athletic Club (G)New York City, United States
19034–1*Longwood Cricket Club (G)Boston, United States
19045–0Worple Road (G)London, United Kingdom
19055–0Queen's Club (G)London, United Kingdom
19065–0Worple Road (G)London, United Kingdom
19073–2*Worple Road (G)London, United Kingdom
19083–2Albert Ground (G)Melbourne, Australia
19095–0Double Bay Grounds (G)Sydney, Australia
19114–0Lancaster Park (G)Christchurch, New Zealand
19123–2*Albert Ground (G)Melbourne, Australia
19133–2*Worple Road (G)London, United Kingdom
19143–2*West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19194–1Double Bay Grounds (G)Sydney, Australia
19205–0*Domain Cricket Club (G)Auckland, New Zealand
19215–0West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19224–1West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19234–1West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19245–0Germantown Cricket Club (G)Philadelphia, United States
19255–0Germantown Cricket Club (G)Philadelphia, United States
19264–1Germantown Cricket Club (G)Philadelphia, United States
19273–2*Germantown Cricket Club (G)Philadelphia, United States
19284–1Stade Roland Garros (C)Paris, France
19293–2Stade Roland Garros (C)Paris, France
19304–1Stade Roland Garros (C)Paris, France
19313–2Stade Roland Garros (C)Paris, France
19323–2Stade Roland Garros (C)Paris, France
19333–2*Stade Roland Garros (C)Paris, France
19344–1Centre Court, Wimbledon (G)London, United Kingdom
19355–0Centre Court, Wimbledon (G)London, United Kingdom
19363–2Centre Court, Wimbledon (G)London, United Kingdom
19374–1*Centre Court, Wimbledon (G)London, United Kingdom
19383–2Germantown Cricket Club (G)Philadelphia, United States
19393–2*Merion Cricket Club (G)Haverford, United States
19465–0*Kooyong Stadium (G)Melbourne, Australia
19474–1West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19485–0West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19494–1West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19504–1*West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19513–2White City Stadium (G)Sydney, Australia
19524–1Memorial Drive Tennis Club (G)Adelaide, Australia
19533–2Kooyong Stadium (G)Melbourne, Australia
19543–2*White City Stadium (G)Sydney, Australia
19555–0*West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19565–0Memorial Drive Tennis Club (G)Adelaide, Australia
19573–2Kooyong Stadium (G)Melbourne, Australia
19583–2*Milton Courts (G)Brisbane, Australia
19593–2*West Side Tennis Club (G)New York City, United States
19604–1White City Stadium (G)Sydney, Australia
19615–0Kooyong Stadium (G)Melbourne, Australia
19625–0Milton Courts (G)Brisbane, Australia
19633–2*Memorial Drive Tennis Club (G)Adelaide, Australia
19643–2*Harold Clark Courts (C)Cleveland, United States
19654–1White City Stadium (G)Sydney, Australia
19664–1Kooyong Stadium (G)Melbourne, Australia
19674–1Milton Courts (G)Brisbane, Australia
19684–1*Memorial Drive Tennis Club (G)Adelaide, Australia
19695–0Harold Clark Courts (H)Cleveland, United States
19705–0Harold Clark Courts (H)Cleveland, United States
19713–2Olde Providence Racquet Club (C)Charlotte, United States
19723–2*Club Sportiv Progresul (C)Bucharest, Romania
19735–0*Public Auditorium (ICp)Cleveland, United States
1974
19753–2Kungliga tennishallen (ICp)Stockholm, Sweden
19764–1*Estadio Nacional (C)Santiago, Chile
19773–1White City Stadium (G)Sydney, Australia
19784–1Mission Hills CC (H)Rancho Mirage, United States
19795–0Civic Auditorium (ICp)San Francisco, United States
19804–1Sportovní Hala (ICp)Prague, Czechoslovakia
19813–1Riverfront Coliseum (ICp)Cincinnati, United States
19824–1*Palais des Sports (IC)Grenoble, France
19833–2Kooyong Stadium (G)Melbourne, Australia
19844–1Scandinavium (IC)Gothenburg, Sweden
19853–2*Olympiahalle (ICp)Munich, West Germany
19863–2Kooyong Stadium (G)Melbourne, Australia
19875–0Scandinavium (IC)Gothenburg, Sweden
19884–1*Scandinavium (IC)Gothenburg, Sweden
19893–2Schleyerhalle (ICp)Stuttgart, West Germany
19903–2Suncoast Dome (IC)St. Petersburg, United States
19913–1Palais des Sports de Gerland (ICp)Lyon, France
19923–1Tarrant County Center (IH)Fort Worth, United States
19934–1Messe Düsseldorf Exhibition Hall (IC)Düsseldorf, Germany
19944–1*Olympic Stadium (ICp)Moscow, Russia
19953–2*Olympic Stadium (IC)Moscow, Russia
19963–2*Malmö Isstadion (IH)Malmö, Sweden
19975–0Scandinavium (ICp)Gothenburg, Sweden
19984–1*Forum (IC)Milan, Italy
19993–2*Acropolis Exhibition Hall (IC)Nice, France
20003–1Palau Sant Jordi (IC)Barcelona, Spain
20013–2*Rod Laver Arena (G)Melbourne, Australia
20023–2*Palais Omnisports (IC)Paris, France
20033–1Rod Laver Arena (G)Melbourne, Australia
20043–2Estadio de La Cartuja (IC)Seville, Spain
20053–2*Sibamac Arena (IH)Bratislava, Slovakia
20063–2Olympic Stadium (ICp)Moscow, Russia
20074–1Memorial Coliseum (IH)Portland, United States
20083–1*Polideportivo Islas Malvinas (IH)Mar del Plata, Argentina
20095–0Palau Sant Jordi (IC)Barcelona, Spain
20103–2Belgrade Arena (IH)Belgrade, Serbia
20113–1Estadio de La Cartuja (IC)Seville, Spain
20123–2O2 Arena (IH)Prague, Czech Republic
20133–2*Kombank Arena (IH)Belgrade, Serbia
20143–1*Stade Pierre-Mauroy (IC)Lille, France
20153–1*Flanders Expo (IC)Ghent, Belgium
20163–2*Arena Zagreb (IH)Zagreb, Croatia
20173–2Stade Pierre-Mauroy (IH)Lille, France
20183–1*Stade Pierre-Mauroy (IC)Lille, France
20192–0Caja Mágica (IH)Madrid, Spain
2021 RTF2–0Madrid Arena (IH)Madrid, Spain
20222–0Martin Carpena Arena (IH)Málaga, Spain
20232–0Martin Carpena Arena (IH)Málaga, Spain

Victories by team

All-time

CountryTitlesFirstLast
3219002007

2819072003
1019032015
1019272017
719751998
620002019

319802013

319881993

RTF
320022021
219762023
220052018
11974
12010
12014
12016
12022

Since 1972

CountryTitlesFirstLast
919722007
719751998
619732003
620002019
419912017

319881993

319802013

RTF
320022021
219762023
220052018
11974
12010
12014
12015
12016
12022

Victories by continent

scope=colContinentscope=colWins
scope=row align=leftEurope48
scope=row align=leftNorth America33
scope=row align=leftOceania28
scope=row align=leftSouth America1
scope=row align=leftAfrica1

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Davis Cup History . Davis Cup . 25 July 2016 . 19 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019172522/https://www.daviscup.com/en/organisation/davis-cup-history.aspx . live .
  2. News: What a racquet: Britain's Davis Cup history . BBC . 19 February 2016 . 18 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151218014552/http://www.bbc.co.uk/timelines/zw2wmnb . live .
  3. Web site: Davis Cup format . Davis Cup . 19 February 2016 . 5 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160105101125/http://www.daviscup.com/en/organisation/davis-cup-format.aspx . live .
  4. Web site: Davis Cup Explained . Lawn Tennis Association . 8 March 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035101/http://www3.lta.org.uk/fans-major-events/Davis-Cup/About/ . live .
  5. News: Andy Murray wins the Davis Cup for Great Britain . BBC Sport . 29 November 2015 . 27 January 2016 . Piers . Newberry . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035100/https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/34957711 . live .
  6. Book: Grasso, John . Davis Cup . Scarecrow Press . Historical Dictionary of Tennis . September 2011 . 8 December 2011 . 79. 9780810874909 .
  7. News: Davis Cup: Player profiles and statistics ahead of this week's Great Britain v USA tie . Sky Sports . 3 March 2015 . 3 July 2016 . Andy . Schooler . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035116/https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12040/9741206/davis-cup-player-profiles-and-statistics-ahead-of-this-weeks-tie-between-great-britain-and-the-usa . live .
  8. News: No Tennis Challenge; Americans Will Not Enter a Team for Davis Trophy Contest.. The New York Times. 2 February 2011. 8 March 1904. 11 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200611224531/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/03/08/120266215.pdf. live.
  9. News: Lawn Tennis Championship. Australasia Wins The Davis Cup.. Sydney Morning Herald. 25 July 1907. 4 July 2016. 21 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035102/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FJweAAAAIBAJ&pg=3938,294610. live.
  10. News: Only Four Nations Have Held The Davis Cup . The Sydney Morning Herald . 9 December 1951 . 31 August 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035100/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19511209&id=W_BhAAAAIBAJ&pg=7032,5329468&hl=en . live .
  11. Web site: Australia and the Davis Cup . Tennis Australia . 3 July 2016 . 16 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816155549/http://www.tennis.com.au/news-and-events/pro-tournaments/davis-cup/history . live .
  12. Web site: Australasia 4–1 Great Britain . Davis Cup . 4 July 2016 . 29 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160529222454/http://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=10000598 . live .
  13. News: U.S. loses Davis Cup held for 7 years . Chicago Tribune . 11 September 1927 . 4 July 2016 . 11 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200611224533/https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/ . live .
  14. News: Tennis being developed as International Game . The Harvard Crimson . 23 May 1923 . 20 March 2016 . Dwight F. . Davis . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121191147/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1923/5/23/tennis-being-developed-as-international-game/ . live .
  15. Web site: France . Davis Cup . 5 July 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035102/https://www.daviscup.com/en/teams/team.aspx?id=FRA . live .
  16. Web site: Tennis – Popular and international 1900s–1950s . Australian Government . 5 July 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160711001803/http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/tennis-popular-and-international . 11 July 2016 .
  17. Book: Riess, Steven A. . Sports in America from Colonial Times to the Twenty-First Century: An Encyclopedia . Routledge . 2015 . 781 . 9781317459460 .
  18. News: Davis Cup returns to a scene of its Grassy past . The New York Times . 27 February 2016 . 4 July 2016 . Christopher . Clarey . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121191147/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/sports/tennis/davis-cup-returning-to-a-part-of-its-glorious-grassy-past.html?_r=0 . live .
  19. Web site: Australia . Davis Cup . 5 July 2016 . 16 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016163739/https://www.daviscup.com/en/teams/team.aspx?id=AUS . live .
  20. News: The Year the Davis Cup felt empty . The New York Times . 28 November 2009 . 28 March 2016 . Dave . Seminara . 24 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181124220104/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/sports/tennis/29davis.html?_r=0 . live .
  21. News: The Shots Not Heard Around The World . Tennis . 19 November 2014 . 28 March 2016 . Steve . Tignor . 7 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200307032825/https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/11/shots-not-heard-around-world/53301/ . live .
  22. News: West Germany wins title behind Becker-Jelen . Los Angeles Times . 18 December 1988 . 5 July 2016 . 18 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818025639/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-12-18/sports/sp-1079_1_west-germany . live .
  23. News: Becker dominates Wilander, W. Germany keeps Davis Cup . The Washington Post . 18 December 1989 . 5 July 2016 . Stephan . Nasstrom . 28 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828013428/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/12/18/becker-dominates-wilander-w-germany-keeps-davis-cup/e0b0d7cc-79f1-465f-8226-c3868243839f/ . live .
  24. Web site: USA 3–2 Aus . Davis Cup . 5 July 2016 . 5 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160405092402/http://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=10000752 . live .
  25. News: A bubbly France drinks up Davis Cup . The New York Times . 2 December 1991 . 5 July 2016 . Robin . Finn . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035116/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/02/sports/tennis-a-bubbly-france-drinks-up-davis-cup.html . live .
  26. Web site: Sweden . Davis Cup . 5 July 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121191147/https://www.daviscup.com/en/teams/team.aspx?id=SWE . live .
  27. News: Philippoussis wins Davis Cup for Australia . BBC News . 5 December 1999 . 4 July 2016 . 28 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828021430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/tennis/551560.stm . live .
  28. News: Spain wins first Davis Cup title . CBS News . 8 December 2000 . 4 July 2016 . 15 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415021551/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spain-wins-first-davis-cup-title/ . live .
  29. News: France win Davis Cup . BBC Sport . 2 December 2001 . 4 July 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121044515/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/1687362.stm . live .
  30. News: Russia claim Davis Cup thriller . BBC Sport . 1 December 2002 . 4 July 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035101/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/2533025.stm . live .
  31. News: 1990: Teammates Agassi and Chang Propel United States in St. Pete . World Tennis Magazine . 30 November 2009 . 3 July 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035118/https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/1095 . live .
  32. News: Nadal lifted by golden memories of Seville . The Independent . 2 December 2011 . 3 July 2016 . Paul . Newman . 19 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160819194547/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/nadal-lifted-by-golden-memories-of-seville-6270688.html . live .
  33. Web site: Spain . Davis Cup . 3 July 2016 . 6 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101206150926/http://www.daviscup.com/en/teams/team/profile.aspx?id=ESP . live .
  34. News: Davis Cup final: Czech Republic edge out Serbia . BBC Sport . 17 November 2013 . 3 July 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035116/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/24979767 . live .
  35. News: Davis Cup final: Roger Federer dedicates win to his team-mates . BBC Sport . 23 November 2014 . 3 July 2016 . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035102/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/30167687 . live .
  36. The Davis Cup was not played in 1940-1945 due to World War II.
  37. Web site: Davis Cup finals . Davis Cup . 29 January 2016 . 9 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209221258/http://www.daviscup.com/en/statistics/champions.aspx . live .