The Davis Cup is an annual international team competition in men’s tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and pits teams from different countries against each other in a knockout format over the course of a year. The Davis Cup tournament is held at various locations around the world each year.
History of the Davis Cup
The Davis Cup was established in 1900 by four members of the Harvard University tennis team – Dwight F. Davis, Holcombe Ward, Malcolm Whitman, and Beals Wright. It was originally called the International Lawn Tennis Challenge. The first match took place in 1900 between the United States and Great Britain at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, USA. The United States won the inaugural Davis Cup 3-0.
The competition was initially played as a challenge cup, with the previous year’s champions automatically qualifying for the next year’s tournament. In 1972, the format was changed to a knockout tournament with 16 teams competing for the title. Over time the number of competing nations grew steadily, reaching well over 100 teams by the late 1990s.
The United States was the dominant force in the early decades, winning the title for the first seven years and holding the cup for 15 of the first 18 years. Australia, France, and Great Britain were also among the early champions. From 1920 to 1926, the title was won six consecutive times by the United States.
In the post-World War II era, Australia became the preeminent Davis Cup nation, capturing the title 15 times between 1950 and 1967. Other major champions during this period were the United States and Sweden. Beginning in the 1970s, more countries such as Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Germany began winning the Davis Cup as tennis became a truly global sport.
Since 1981, no nation has dominated the Davis Cup. During this period, nations who have captured their first Davis Cup titles include Sweden, Germany, Russia, Croatia, and Serbia. Spain has been the most successful country over the past two decades, winning the title 6 times since 2000.
Davis Cup Format
The Davis Cup format involves over 140 competing nations each year. The competition consists of several rounds and tiered divisions, culminating in a 16-nation World Group that competes for the championship.
The World Group features 8 first round ties consisting of 5 matches each – 4 singles matches and 1 doubles match. The winner of the 5 matches wins the tie. The 8 winners of the first round ties advance to the quarterfinals. The 4 quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals. The 2 semifinal winners compete in the final match to determine the Davis Cup champion for that year.
Below the World Group are several lower zone groups consisting of Americas, Europe/Africa, and Asia/Oceania regions. Each zone is further divided into multiple groups (often I and II) based on entry ranking. Teams that do not qualify for the World Group play in these lower groups, with promotion and relegation between the groups each year based on results.
The top nations compete in the World Group while lower ranked nations compete in the regional groups, with the goal of improving their ranking and gaining promotion into a higher group. Even the lowest ranked teams get to compete in a Davis Cup tie each year.
Davis Cup Tournament Locations
As an international team event, Davis Cup ties are contested at locations all over the world each year. The early rounds in the World Group and lower zone groups are held at venues chosen by the home team. Teams get to pick grass, hard court, clay, or indoor venues that best suit their players.
The World Group quarterfinals, semifinals, and final match of the Davis Cup are held at a neutral location determined in advance by the ITF. Some recent and upcoming Davis Cup final locations include:
- 2022 – Malaga, Spain
- 2021 – Madrid, Spain
- 2019 – Madrid, Spain
- 2018 – Lille, France
- 2017 – Lille, France
- 2016 – Zagreb, Croatia
- 2015 – Ghent, Belgium
The Davis Cup finals were held at a neutral site for over 25 years from 1981 to 2006. Some of the most frequent neutral final hosts over this period were Barcelona, Spain and Melbourne, Australia. Between 2007 and 2018, the finals returned to being held at one of the finalists’ home venues.
In 2019, the Davis Cup underwent a major format change, condensing all of the World Group ties into a single week-long tournament at a neutral city. Madrid was chosen to host this new Davis Cup Finals event from 2019 to 2021. The format will expand to 11 days and multiple cities starting in 2022.
2023 Davis Cup Schedule and Location
For 2023, the early World Group first round and lower zone group ties will once again be contested at home venues chosen by the individual competing nations in February and March. The Davis Cup Finals featuring the World Group quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship match will take place November 23-26, 2023 at multiple yet to be determined cities.
Some key dates for the 2023 Davis Cup calendar are:
- February 3-4: Asia/Oceania Group III
- February 17-18: Europe/Africa Zone Group III
- March 3-4: Europe/Africa Zone Group I
- March 17-18: Americas Zone Group I
- March 31-April 1: World Group I first round
- November 23-26: Davis Cup Finals
The 16 teams that will compete in the World Group I first round ties March 31 – April 1 will include the following nations:
Croatia | Italy | Germany | United States |
Australia | France | Netherlands | Chinese Taipei |
Colombia | Serbia | Finland | Slovakia |
Belgium | South Korea | Austria | Great Britain |
The 8 winners from these World Group I ties will advance to the Davis Cup Finals in November along with the previous year’s 4 semifinalist nations – Canada, Australia, Italy, and Germany.
Davis Cup Venues in Major Tennis Nations
Some of the most frequent Davis Cup hosts in major tennis nations include:
United States
- Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California – The main Davis Cup venue for the US, having hosted over 20 ties. Features hard courts surrounded by desert mountain backdrops.
- Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho – A 6,000-seat indoor arena that has held several ties.
- University of Illinois Campus, Champaign, Illinois – An NCAA tennis facility that has hosted Davis Cup matches.
France
- Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille – This 27,000-seat stadium hosted the Davis Cup finals from 2017-2018.
- Palais des Sports, Gerland Lyon – An indoor sporting arena in Lyon that has been a frequent Davis Cup venue.
- Kindarena, Rouen – A modern 7,000-seat indoor arena that held ties in 2021 and 2022.
Spain
- Pabellón Olímpico de Badalona, Barcelona – Hosted several Davis Cup finals and ties from 1981-2009.
- La Caja Mágica, Madrid – Held the Davis Cup finals in 2019-2021 in this modern 12,500-seat tennis complex.
- Plaza de Toros, Valencia – A historic bullfighting ring converted into a tennis stadium for Davis Cup ties.
Australia
- Kooyong Stadium, Melbourne – Australia’s most famous Davis Cup venue, hosting ties since 1933.
- Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane – A major facility with covered stadiums, practice courts and player amenities.
- Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, Adelaide – Host of multiple ties on outdoor grass and hard courts.
Great Britain
- Emirates Arena, Glasgow – This major indoor arena has hosted Great Britain’s home ties since 2015.
- National Tennis Centre, London – Occasional venue that played host to the 2015 Davis Cup final.
- County Hall, Taunton – A temporary grass court venue used when hosting teams on grass.
Conclusion
The Davis Cup is held worldwide at venues suited to the competing teams. Early rounds see matches at home sites chosen for advantage, while the late stages meet at neutral cities to determine the champion. The tournament maintains its international flavor by visiting countries across continents during its annual journey to crown the top Davis Cup nation.