Davis Cup

Davis Cup

The Davis Cup is an international men’s team tennis event, contested annually in a knockout format. Known as the World Cup of Tennis, the Davis Cup began in 1900, originally as a challenge match between Great Britain and the USA, before gradually increasing the number of countries competing.

The most successful nation is the USA, who have won 32 tournaments, ahead of Australia who have won 28 times. Spain are the current champions, winning their sixth title after defeating Canada 2-0 in the 2019 Final.


When is the Davis Cup?

The Davis Cup is played annually and usually starts in February or March, with matches taking place over weekends throughout the course of the year. The Davis Cup culminates in the Finals week taking place in mid to late November.

March – Davis Cup Qualifiers, World Group I play-offs & World Group II play-offs

June – Africa Group IV, Asia/Oceania Group IV & Europe Group IV

September – World Group I & World Group II

November – Davis Cup Finals


What is the format of the Davis Cup?

142 nations entered the Davis Cup in 2020, making it the world’s largest international team competition in sport.

The format of the Davis Cup underwent a reformat for the 2019 competition, with the World Group being replaced by the Davis Cup Finals.

Davis Cup Finals

The Davis Cup Finals is a week long competition held in one location, featuring 18 teams (12 qualifiers, the previous year’s four semi-finalists and two wild cards). The 18 teams compete in six round-robin groups of three teams. The six group winners plus the two second-placed teams with the best records based on sets and games won will qualify for the quarter-finals. The Davis Cup champions will be crowned after the completion of the knockout phase. All ties at the Finals will consist of two singles matches and one doubles match. All matches are the best of three tiebreak sets.

A Davis Cup Qualifying Round is held in March on a home-and-away basis, with 24 nations competing for the 12 qualifying places in the Davis Cup Finals. The 24 nations are:

  • 14 teams ranked 5th-18th in the previous years Davis Cup Finals (2 of which are selected as the Wildcards for the Finals)
  • 12 winning teams from World Group I

Ties in the Davis Cup Qualifiers consist of five matches played over two days: two singles on day one, followed by the doubles and two reverse singles on day two. All matches are the best of the three tiebreak sets.

World Group I

World Group I is held in September and features 24 nations playing on a home-and-away basis. World Group I features the 12 teams losing in the Davis Cup Qualifying Round and the 12 winners of the World Group I play-offs. The winning nation will advance to the following year’s Davis Cup Qualifying Round, whilst the losing nation takes place in the following year’s World Group I play-offs.

The World Group I play-offs are held in March on a home-and-away basis, featuring the 12 nations that lost in the previous year’s World Group I and the 12 winners from the previous year’s World Group II.

Ties in World Group I consist of five matches played over two days: two singles on day one, followed by the doubles and two reverse singles on day two. All matches are the best of the three tiebreak sets.

World Group II

World Group II is held in September and features 24 nations playing on a home-and-away basis. World Group II features the 12 teams losing in the World Group I play-offs. and the 12 winners of the World Group II play-offs. The winning nation will advance to the following year’s Davis Cup World Group I play-offs, whilst the losing nation takes place in the following year’s World Group II play-offs.

The World Group II play-offs are held in March on a home-and-away basis, featuring the 12 nations that lost in the previous year’s World Group II and the 12 winners from the previous year’s World Group III.

Ties in World Group I consist of five matches played over two days: two singles on day one, followed by the doubles and two reverse singles on day two. All matches are the best of the three tiebreak sets.

Groups III & IV

Below the World Groups are a series of nations divided into regions – Group III is split into four geographical Regions (Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia/Oceania) and Group IV is split into three geographical Regions (Europe/Africa, the Americas and Asia/Oceania).

12 teams from Group II progress to the World Group II play-offs in March, whilst there is promotion and relegation between Groups III and IV for the highest/lowest ranked nations.

These groups are week-long round-robin events, hosted by one of the nations in the group. Ties in Groups III and IV consist of two singles matches and one doubles match, with all matches best of three tiebreak sets.


How do I get tickets to the Davis Cup?

Ticket information for the various different Davis Cup matches is available through the official website here.


Further Information

Davis Cup Official Website

Davis Cup Finals Official Website


Last Updated on March 12, 2021 by Sports Tourist

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