Davis Cup

Each round consists of 5 matches. The first two are singles, the third is a doubles match, and in the last two matches (the reverse singles) the first contestants play again, but against different opponents. There is no restriction on who may play the doubles match: the two singles players, two other players (usually doubles specialists) or a combination.

The tournament was conceived in 1899 by four members of the Harvard University tennis team who came up with the idea of challenging the British to a tennis showdown. Once the idea received the go ahead from the respective lawn tennis associations, one of the four Harvard players, Dwight Filley Davis, designed a tournament format and spent the money from his own pocket to purchase an appropriate sterling silver trophy.

The first match, between the United States and Great Britain was held in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1900. The American team, of which Dwight Davis was a part, surprised the British by winning the first three matches. The following year the two countries did not compete but the US won the next match in 1902. By 1905 the tournament expanded to include Belgium, Austria, France, and Australasia, a combined team from Australia and New Zealand that competed together until 1924.

These tournaments were only officially called the Davis Cup following the death of Dwight Davis in 1945. From 1950 to 1967, Australia dominated the competition, winning the Cup 15 times in 18 years. Since inception, the USA has won the tournament 31 times, more than any other country.

On the 100th anniversary of the tournament's founding, 129 nations competed for the Davis Cup.

Davis Cup winners:

• 2003 - Australia wins 3-1 over Spain
• 2002 - Russia wins 3-2 over France
• 2001 - France wins 3-2 over Australia
• 2000 - Spain wins 3-1 over Australia
• 1999 - Australia wins 3-2 over France
• 1998 - Sweden wins 4-1 over Italy
• 1997 - Sweden wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1996 - France wins 3-2 over Sweden
• 1995 - United States wins 3-2 over Russia
• 1994 - Sweden wins 4-1 over Russia
• 1993 - Germany wins 4-1 over Australia
• 1992 - United States wins 3-1 over Switzerland
• 1991 - France wins 3-1 over the United States
• 1990 - United States wins 3-2 over Australia
• 1989 - Germany F.R. 3-2 over Sweden
• 1988 - Germany F.R. 4-1 over Sweden
• 1987 - Sweden wins 5-0 over India
• 1986 - Australia wins 3-2 over Sweden
• 1985 - Sweden wins 3-2 over Germany F.R.
• 1984 - Sweden wins 4-1 over the United States
• 1983 - Australia wins 3-2 over Sweden
• 1982 - United States wins 4-1 over France
• 1981 - United States wins 3-1 over Argentina
• 1980 - Czechoslovakia wins 4-1 over Italy
• 1979 - United States wins 5-0 over Italy
• 1978 - United States wins 4-1 over Great Britain
• 1977 - Australia wins 3-1 over Italy
• 1976 - Italy wins 4-1 over Chile
• 1975 - Sweden wins 3-2 over Czechoslovakia
• 1974 - South Africa wins over India (Walkover)
• 1973 - Australia wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1972 - United States wins 3-2 over Romania
• 1971 - United States wins 3-2 over Romania
• 1970 - United States wins 5-0 over Germany F.R.
• 1969 - United States wins 5-0 over Romania
• 1968 - United States wins 4-1 over Australia
• 1967 - Australia wins 4-1 over Spain
• 1966 - Australia wins 4-1 over India
• 1965 - Australia wins 4-1 over Spain
• 1964 - Australia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1963 - United States wins 3-2 over Australia
• 1962 - Australia wins 5-0 over Mexico
• 1961 - Australia wins 5-0 over Italy
• 1960 - Australia wins 4-1 over Italy
• 1959 - Australia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1958 - United States wins 3-2 over Australia
• 1957 - Australia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1956 - Australia wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1955 - Australia wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1954 - United States wins 3-2 over Australia
• 1953 - Australia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1952 - Australia wins 4-1 over the United States
• 1951 - Australia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1950 - Australia wins 4-1 over United States
• 1949 - United States wins 4-1 over Australia
• 1948 - United States wins 5-0 over Australia
• 1947 - United States wins 4-1 over Australia
• 1946 - United States wins 5-0 over Australia
• 1940 to 1945 - no tournament due to World War II
• 1939 - Australia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1938 - United States wins 3-2 over Australia
• 1937 - United States wins 4-1 over Great Britain
• 1936 - Great Britain wins 3-2 over Australia
• 1935 - Great Britain wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1934 - Great Britain wins 4-1 over the United States
• 1933 - Great Britain wins 3-2 over France
• 1932 - France wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1931 - France wins 3-2 over Great Britain
• 1930 - France wins 4-1 over the United States
• 1929 - France wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1928 - France wins 4-1 over the United States
• 1927 - France wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1926 - United States wins 4-1 over France
• 1925 - United States wins 5-0 over France
• 1924 - United States wins 5-0 over Australia
• 1923 - United States wins 4-1 over Australasia
• 1922 - United States wins 4-1 over Australasia
• 1921 - United States wins 5-0 over Japan
• 1920 - United States wins 5-0 over Australasia
• 1919 - Australasia wins 4-1 over Great Britain
• 1915 to 1918 - no tournament due to World War I
• 1914 - Australasia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1913 - United States wins 3-2 over Great Britain
• 1912 - Great Britain wins 3-2 over Australasia
• 1911 - Australasia wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1910 - no tournament
• 1909 - Australasia wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1908 - Australasia wins 3-2 over the United States
• 1907 - Australasia wins 3-2 over Great Britain
• 1906 - Great Britain wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1905 - Great Britain wins 5-0 over the United States
• 1904 - Great Britain wins 5-0 over Belgium
• 1903 - Great Britain wins 4-1 over the United States
• 1902 - United States wins 3-2 over Great Britain
• 1901 - no tournament
• 1900 - United States wins 3-0 over Great Britain

Referenced By