Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the most important competition for national teams in men's tennis. It is played every year at over a hundred nations in groups and rounds. It is organized by the International Tennis Federation ( ITF). The comparable competition in women's tennis is the Fed Cup.
Mode
Each round between two teams (English tie) is played over three days in four singles and a double. All individual lots and the double game (English rubbers ) are played over three wins ( Best -of- Five). An exception applies if a team has already scored three game profits and is declared the winner of the Davis Cup match. Then decide the teams, whether the remaining games are still played (English dead rubber). If this is the case, they will be played nurmehr two winning sets. Also, the order of the games is given: first the first two singles matches will be played, then the double game. It concludes with the two remaining individual lots.
In the season of 1981, a World Group was created, in which the 16 best teams play for the title. The World Group will be held in the knockout system, the eight losers of the first round have a relegation round at the end of the season contest against the top eight teams from the Continental Group Europe / Africa, Oceania / Asia and America. The winners of the eight games will qualify for the World Group for the following season. The individual continental groups are further divided into divisions, between which there is also an ascent and descent control. This mode endures to this day.
History
The emergence of Nations competition goes back to the idea of four members of the tennis team Harvard University. These summarized in 1899 the decision, the UK, the home of tennis challenge in a competition. When the two tennis associations gave their agreement in principle, developed one of the four players, Dwight Filley Davis, a concept of competition and acquired according to the anecdote with that money he was carrying with him a trophy made of sterling silver. The first match between the USA and Great Britain was fought in 1900 in Boston. The U.S. team, including Dwight Davis, proved for the British to be surprisingly strong, winning the first three games. The following year the competition failed. 1902 again won the United States.
Until 1905, the number of participants was extended to include Belgium, Austria, France and " Australasia ", a joint team formed by Australia and New Zealand ( until 1913 ). The tournament was originally known under the name " International Lawn Tennis Challenge". As Dwight Davis died in 1945, was awarded the honorific competition in memory of his "inventor" of the present name.
Between 1950 and 1967 the competition was dominated by the Australians, the 18 years it carried the trophy in 15.
By 1973, only four could Nations - the U.S., UK, France and Australia / Australasia - win the competition. The dominance of these leading tennis nations was broken in 1974 when it South Africa and India qualified for the final. South Africa won at that time without a fight, since India refused in protest against the apartheid policy to contest the finals. Since then it has also various other countries have managed to win the Davis Cup.
Germany in 1970 reached the final of the Cup, but lost the U.S.. 1985 the team lost against Sweden for the second time a final. For the first German Davis Cup victory came on December 18, 1988 The title was 1989 -. Again against Sweden - defended. Present, the most recent title won a German team in 1993.
On the 100th birthday of the competition in 2000, played 129 nations for the title.
Winner
- India joined in 1974 not to protest against the policy of apartheid in South Africa.
Statistics
* Including four wins as Australasia Status: After Davis Cup 2012