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Countries with the most Davis Cup Tennis Titles in the Open Era

Davis Cup is an annual tennis event where top professional tennis players, representing hundreds of countries around the world, compete to have their country crowned the Davis Cup Champions. It first began in 1900 when the United States and Great Britain faced off in what was called the International Lawn Tennis Challenge, later to be called Davis Cup after Dwight Davis, the founder and captain of the 1900 U.S. Team. During the first three years of the competition the United States defeated Great Britain two of the three times. In 1905 the field of countries was expanded to include Belgium, Austria, France, and Australasia. Australasia was a combined team of players from both Australia and New Zealand lasting until 1914.

Davis Cup format involves two teams meeting to decide which country moves forward. To determine the winning country five matches will be played, including four singles matches and one doubles match. Whichever team win three of the five matches is the winner and moves forward to face another country.

The open era of tennis began in 1968 when professionals and amateurs could play in the same tournaments.

Davis Cup Winning Countries since the Open Era (1968).

Country (Total Davis Cup Titles) – Year of Last Title

13

United States (32) – 2007

7

Sweden (7) – 1998

6

Australia (28) – 2003

4

Spain (4) – 2009

3

France (9) – 2001

Germany (3) – 1993

2

Russia (2) – 2006

1

Czech Republic (1) – 1980

Croatia (1) – 2005

Italy (1) – 1976

South Africa (1) – 1974

 

The only country to win a Davis Cup title, but not in the Open Era is Great Britain with nine total titles, all before the end of the 1930s. During the period before the Open Era only four nations could call themselves Davis Cup champions; Australia, Great Britain, France and the United States, all of which now play host to one of the four Grand Slams. South Africa received their only title in 1974 without and still having never played a single match in a Davis Cup Final. How did that come to be? India was set to play for the title in 1974, but pulled out in protest to the South African government’s apartheid policies and thus handed South Africa the title.

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