The Early Years of the Davis Cup Competition
Learn about the origins and early years of the international men's team competition that still enthralls tennis fans today.
"The National Lawn-Tennis Tournament at Newport" (1893) by Charles Howard Johnson and Harper's Bazar International Tennis Hall of Fame
How international was 19th century tennis?
In the late 19th century, the growth of tennis spread quickly across the globe. However, though tennis was played in various areas around the world, it was not played internationally in the sense that players rarely traveled beyond borders to compete as they do today.
Dr. James Dwight, USNLTA President, plants a seed
In 1897, Dr. Dwight invited the British Lawn Tennis Association to send a few of their leading players to visit American as the USNLTA's guests. Harold Mahoney, Harold Nisbet, and Dr. Wilberforce Eaves visited, competed, and simply returned home. The matter seemed closed.
Dwight Davis, Beals Wright, George Wright, Holcombe Ward, Malcolm Whitman International Tennis Hall of Fame
Harvard University teammates tennis tour
In spring 1899, Dwight Davis, Beals Wright, Holcombe Ward, and Malcolm Whitman, accompanied by Wright's father, former professional baseball player George Wright (center), embarked on the first tennis tour across the United States (shown in in Del Monte, California in September).
That seed takes root
Following the great success of this cross-country tour and the amount of goodwill and benefit to the game it generated, Dwight Davis was inspired to keep the momentum going with an international event. Davis found ardent support in Dr. Dwight, who was still running the USNLTA.
A tournament needs a trophy
With Dr. Dwight's support, Davis had Boston silversmiths Shreve, Crump and Low create an ornate sterling silver punchbowl lined with gold. It was inscribed "International Lawn Tennis Challenge Trophy Presented by Dwight D. F. Davis, 1900."
A tournament needs an opponent
In January 1900, Dr. Dwight wrote to the head of the British LTA. He explained the concept of an international challenge tournament, where the winning nation would take possession of the trophy until another nation challenged for it the following year.
Arthur Gore, Herbert Roper Barrett, Edmund Black International Tennis Hall of Fame
Great Britain accepts the challenge
On March 7, 1900, the LTA accepted the challenge concept.
Thousands saw the British team of Arthur Gore, Herbert Roper Barrett, and Edmund Black off. They arrived in New York City on August 4th. They visited Buffalo, Niagara, and Canada before heading east to Boston.
The format for the Davis Cup event, which is still used today, is a contest of five matches, or rubbers. This consists of two singles matches, followed by a doubles match, and then two reverse singles matches.
Action at the Longwood Country Club, Boston
Under oppressive temperatures, the American team of Whitman, Davis, and Ward decimated their British rivals, winning the first Davis Cup.
Barrett needed to return to England right after, but Gore and Black stayed to compete in the U.S. Nationals at Newport the following week.
Davis Cup at Crescent Club (composite image) (1902) by International Tennis Hall of Fame Staff International Tennis Hall of Fame
Great Britain challenges the United States once again
In 1901 there were no challenges made to the United States for the Davis Cup. In 1902, England's top two players, the Doherty Brothers, Laurie and Reggie, along with Dr. Joshua Pim traveled to Brooklyn, New York to challenge Davis, Ward, Whitman, and Bill Larned. USA won 3-2.
1903 Davis Cup at Longwood International Tennis Hall of Fame
Three times the charm
In 1903, Great Britain once again challenges the United States for the Davis Cup. The Doherty Brothers take on Larned and brothers George and Robert Wrenn at the Longwood Cricket Club. This time, Great Britain prevails and the Davis Cup crosses the Atlantic for the first time.
Davis Cup expands to more countries
In 1904, the United States did not cross the Atlantic to challenge Great Britain, but Belgium, Austria, and France joined the mix.
Great Britain retained the Cup by defeating Belgium 5 rubbers to 0. Interest in this international competition continued to grow over the years.
Interest in Davis Cup keeps growing
In 1905, the United States returned, and Australasia (the combined team from Australia and New Zealand) joined the competition.
"Dwight's Pot" has been presented to the winner of the competition ever since, which through 2023, includes 155 participating nations.
To learn more about the Davis Cup, including the current year's events, please visit daviscup.com or the International Tennis Federation .
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