First played in 1900, between the United States and the British Isles at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston (1900)
The Americans won; the competition was then called the International Lawn Tennis Challenge
General knowledge · Sport
The Davis Cup
First contested 1900
Sport — the international team competition in men's tennis
The international team competition in men's tennis, first played in 1900 as a challenge between the United States and the British Isles and originally called the International Lawn Tennis Challenge. The trophy, a large sterling silver punchbowl nicknamed the Salad Bowl, was bought by Dwight F. Davis, then a Harvard student who played in the first tie. The United States have won it most often, ahead of Australia; since a 2019 overhaul the competition has ended in a week-long finals event, and Italy have won the last three.
How to spot them
- ▸A sterling silver punchbowl, nicknamed the Salad Bowl, bought for about £700
- ▸Named after a player in the very first tie, who later became US Secretary of War
- ▸Best-of-five ties: four singles and a doubles, in the old format
- ▸Its women's counterpart is the Billie Jean King Cup, formerly the Federation Cup
Key facts
The trophy was bought by a Harvard undergraduate who went on to be US Secretary of War and a Governor-General of the Philippines
Dwight Filley Davis, who also played in the first tie
Nicola Pietrangeli played 164 rubbers for Italy and won 120, both records
He played from 1954 to 1972
Great Britain's 2015 victory, their first since 1936, was built on Andy Murray winning all eleven of his rubbers (2015)
The final was against Belgium in Ghent
Reformed in 2019 into an eighteen-nation week at a single venue, with best-of-three-set matches (2019)
A private investment deal fronted by the footballer Gerard Piqué
Italy beat Spain in the 2025 final to complete three titles in a row (2025)
Their fourth in all; Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli won the two singles rubbers
The United States have won it 32 times, more than any other nation
Australia are next with 28
Quick-fire facts
- •First contested in 1900 as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge, between the United States and the British Isles
- •Dwight F. Davis, a Harvard student who played in the first tie, bought the trophy; he later served as US Secretary of War
- •The trophy is a sterling silver punchbowl, nicknamed the Salad Bowl, about 13 inches high
- •The United States lead with 32 titles, last won in 2007; Australia have 28
- •Great Britain and France have ten titles each; Britain's 2015 win ended a wait of 79 years
- •Nicola Pietrangeli of Italy holds the records for most rubbers played (164) and most won (120)
- •The format changed in 2019 to an eighteen-nation Finals week with best-of-three-set matches
- •Italy won in 2023, 2024 and 2025, their second, third and fourth titles
- •The equivalent women's competition is the Billie Jean King Cup, called the Federation Cup from 1963 and the Fed Cup from 1995
- •Ties were traditionally played over three days: two singles, a doubles, then two reverse singles
Drill it — 8 cards
1 / 8new card
Sources
- International Tennis Federation — Davis Cup history and records
- Olympics.com — Italy clinch third consecutive Davis Cup title against Spain