2020–21 Davis Cup
The 2020–21 Davis Cup was the 109th edition of the Davis Cup, a tournament between national teams in men's tennis. It was sponsored by Rakuten.[1] For this edition, the format of the cup was changed.[2] The new format saw the creation of a Davis Cup World Group I and World Group II which was played on a worldwide basis and replaced the regional Group I and Group II. As a result, the Davis Cup nations ranking was no longer used to determine which group a nation was played in. Previous the 2019, and the 2021 finals host Spain were the defending champions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 26 June 2020 the ITF announced that the 2020 finals would take place from 22 until 28 November 2021. In addition, 24 World Group I and World Group II ties were postponed to March and September 2021, and the 2020 regional Group III and Group IV events were also postponed to 2021. The 18 nations that qualified for the finals kept their standing for the next year.[3]
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 March 2020 – 5 December 2021 |
| Edition | 109th |
| Champion | |
| Winning Nation |  RTF |
← 2019 2022 → | |
Davis Cup Finals
Date: 25 November–5 December 2021
Venue: Madrid Arena, Madrid, Spain
Olympiahalle, Innsbruck, Austria
Pala Alpitour, Turin, Italy[4][5]
Surface: Hard court (indoor)
18 nations took part in the finals, formerly known as World Group. The qualification was as follows:
- 4 semifinalists of the previous edition
- 2 wild card teams (announced by ITF on 23 November 2019 as France and Serbia)[6]
- 12 winners of a qualifier round, in March 2020
H = Host nation, TH = Title holder, WC = Wild card
| Participating teams | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
 Austria (H) |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada |
 Colombia |
 Croatia |
 Czech Republic |
 Ecuador |
 France (WC) |
 Germany |
 Great Britain |
 Hungary |
 Italy (H) |
 Kazakhstan |
RTF |
 Serbia (WC) |
 Spain (H, TH) |
 Sweden |
 United States |
Seeds
The seedings were based on the Nations ranking of 9 March.[7]
#: Nations ranking as of 9 March 2020.[8]
Qualifying round
Date: 6–7 March 2020[9]
Twenty-six eligible teams were:
- 14 teams ranked 5th-18th in the Finals.
- 12 winning teams from their Group I zone.
Two wild cards for the Finals were selected from these 26 nations. Serbia and France were announced prior to the Qualifiers draw.[9] The remaining 24 nations competed in head-to-head matches, with the 12 winning teams to play at the Finals and the 12 losing teams to play at the World Group I in 2022.
The Davis Cup Qualifiers draw took place on 24 November 2019 at La Caja Mágica.[9]
|
Seeded teams |
Unseeded teams:
|
| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia [1] | 3–1 |  India | Zagreb | Dom Sportova | Hard (i) | [10] |
| Hungary | 3–2 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Belgium [2] | Debrecen | Főnix Hall | Clay (i) | [11] |
| Colombia | 3–1 |  Argentina [3] | Bogotá | Palacio de los Deportes | Clay (i) | [12] |
| United States [4] | 4–0 |  Uzbekistan | Honolulu | Neal S. Blaisdell Center | Hard (i) | [13] |
| Australia [5] | 3–1 |  Brazil | Adelaide | Memorial Drive Tennis Centre | Hard | [14] |
| Italy [6] | 4–0 |  South Korea | Cagliari | Circolo Tennis Cagliari | Clay | [15] |
| Germany [7] | 4–1 |  Belarus | Düsseldorf | Castello Düsseldorf | Hard (i) | [16] |
| Kazakhstan [8] | 3–1 |  Netherlands | Nur-Sultan | Daulet National Tennis Centre | Hard (i) | [17] |
 Slovakia | 1–3 | Czech Republic [9] | Bratislava | AXA Aréna NTC | Clay (i) | [18] |
| Austria [10] | 3–1 |  Uruguay | Premstätten | Steiermarkhalle Schwarzlsee | Hard (i) | [19] |
 Japan [11] | 0–3 | Ecuador | Miki | Bourbon Beans Dome | Hard (i) | [20] |
| Sweden [12] | 3–1 |  Chile | Stockholm | Kungliga tennishallen | Hard (i) | [21] |
Group stage
| Qualified for the Knockout stage | |
| Eliminated |
T = Ties, M = Matches, S = Sets
| Group | Winner | Runner-up | Third | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nation | T | M | S | Nation | T | M | S | Nation | T | M | S | |
| A | RTF | 2–0 | 5–1 | 11–5 | Spain | 1–1 | 4–2 | 9–7 | Ecuador | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–12 |
| B | Kazakhstan | 2–0 | 5–1 | 10–5 | Sweden | 1–1 | 4–2 | 9–4 | Canada | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–12 |
| C | Great Britain | 2–0 | 4–2 | 8–5 | France | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–8 | Czech Republic | 0–2 | 2–4 | 7–8 |
| D | Croatia | 2–0 | 5–1 | 11–3 | Australia | 1–1 | 2–4 | 6–10 | Hungary | 0–2 | 2–4 | 6–10 |
| E | Italy | 2–0 | 4–2 | 9–5 | Colombia | 1–1 | 3–3 | 8–8 | United States | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–9 |
| F | Germany | 2–0 | 4–2 | 8–5 | Serbia | 1–1 | 4–2 | 9–6 | Austria | 0–2 | 1–5 | 4–10 |
Knockout stage
World Group I
Date: 5–6 March 2021 or 17–19 September 2021
Twenty-four teams participated in the World Group I, in series decided on a home and away basis. The seedings are based on the Nations ranking of 9 March.[7]
These twenty-four teams were:
- 12 losing teams from the qualifying round
- 12 winning teams from World Group I play-offs
The eight highest-ranked winners (as at 20 September 2021) of the World Group I ties will automatically progress to the 2022 qualifiers. The four lowest-ranked winners (Norway, Peru, Romania and Ukraine) took part in an additional knock-out tie in November 2021, with the two winners progressing to the 2022 qualifiers and two losers contesting the 2022 World Group I play-offs. The losing nations from the World Group I ties will compete in the World Group I Play-Offs in 2022.[22]
#: Nations ranking as of 9 March 2020.
|
Seeded teams
|
Unseeded teams
|
| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Bolivia | 2–3 | Belgium [1] | Asunción (Paraguay) | Rakiura Resort | Clay | [23] |
| Argentina [2] | 4–1 | Belarus | Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club | Clay | [24] |
 Pakistan | 0–4 | Japan [3] | Islamabad | Pakistan Sports Complex | Grass | [25] |
| Uruguay | 0–4 | Netherlands [4] | Montevideo | Carrasco Lawn Tenis Club | Clay | [26] |
| Slovakia | 3–1 | Chile [5] | Bratislava | NTC Arena | Hard (i) | [27] |
 Finland | 3–1 | India [6] | Espoo | Espoo Metro Areena | Hard (i) | [28] |
 Norway | 3–1 | Uzbekistan [7] | Oslo | Oslo Tennis Arena | Hard (i) | [29] |
 Lebanon | 0–4 | Brazil [8] | Jounieh | Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon | Clay | [30] |
 New Zealand | 1–3 | South Korea [9] | Newport (United States) | International Tennis Hall of Fame | Grass | [31] |
 Romania | 3–1 |  Portugal [10] | Cluj-Napoca | Horia Demian Sports Hall | Hard (i) | [32] |
 Peru | 3–2 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina [11] | Lima | Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposición | Clay | [33] |
 Ukraine | 3–2 |  Israel [12] | Kyiv | Marina Tennis Club | Hard (i) | [34] |
Qualifying round
Date: 6–9 March 2020
Twenty-four teams played for the twelve spots in the World Group I, in series decided on a home and away basis.
These twenty-four teams were:
- 12 losing teams from their Group I zone.
- 12 winning teams from their Group II zone.
The 12 winning teams from the play-offs played at the World Group I and the 12 losing teams played at the World Group II.
|
Seeded teams |
Unseeded teams
|
| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 3–2 |  Chinese Taipei | Zaporizhia | Palace of Sports | Hard (i) | [35] |
| Pakistan | 3–0 |  Slovenia | Islamabad | Pakistan Sports Complex | Grass | [36] |
| Bolivia | 3–1 |  Dominican Republic | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | Club de Tenis Santa Cruz | Clay | [37] |
 Turkey | 1–3 | Israel | Antalya | Club Megasaray Tennis Centre | Clay | [38] |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3–1 |  South Africa | Zenica | Arena Zenica | Hard (i) | [39] |
 Mexico | 2–3 | Finland | Metepec | Club Deportivo La Asunción | Clay | [40] |
| Lebanon | 3–1 |  Thailand | Jounieh | Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon | Clay | [41] |
| New Zealand | 3–1 |  Venezuela | Auckland | ASB Tennis Centre | Hard | [42] |
| Peru | 3–1 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Switzerland | Lima | Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposición | Clay | [43] |
| Norway | 4–0 |  Barbados | Oslo | Oslo Tennis Arena | Hard (i) | [44] |
 Lithuania | 0–4 | Portugal | Šiauliai | Šiauliai Tennis Academy | Hard (i) | [45] |
| Romania | w/o |  China | Piatra Neamț | Polyvalent Hall | Hard (i) | [46] |
Knock-out round
Date: 26–28 November 2021
Four teams played in this round, in series decided on a home and away basis.
These four teams were the four lowest-ranked winners of World Group I.
The two winning teams will play at the Qualifiers and the two losing teams will play at the World Group I Play-Offs in 2022.
#: Nations ranking as of 20 September 2021.
| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 3–1 | Ukraine [1] | Oslo | Oslo Tennis Arena | Hard (i) | [47] |
| Romania | 4–0 | Peru [2] | Cluj-Napoca | Horia Demian Sports Hall | Hard (i) | [48] |
World Group II
Date: 5–6 March 2021 or 17–19 September 2021
Twenty-four teams participated in the World Group II, in series decided on a home and away basis. The seedings are based on the Nations ranking of 9 March.[7]
These twenty-four teams were:
- 12 losing teams from World Group I play-offs
- 12 winning teams from World Group II play-offs
The eight highest-ranked winners (as at 20 September 2021) of the World Group II ties will automatically progress to the 2022 World Group I play-offs. The four lowest-ranked teams (Denmark, Morocco, Tunisia and Zimbabwe) took part in an additional knock-out tie in November, with the two winners progressing to the 2022 World Group I play-offs and two losers contesting the 2022 World Group II play-offs. The losing nations from the World Group II ties will compete in the World Group II Play-Offs in 2022.[49]
#: Nations ranking as of 9 March 2020.
|
Seeded teams
|
Unseeded teams
|
| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zimbabwe | w/o | China [1] | Harare | Harare Sports Club | Hard | [50] |
 Bulgaria | 1–3 | Mexico [2] | Sofia | Sport Hall Sofia | Hard (i) | [51] |
| Switzerland [3] | 5–0 |  Estonia | Biel | Swiss Tennis Arena | Hard (i) | [52] |
 Tunisia | 3–2 | Dominican Republic [4] | Tunis | Cité Nationale Sportive El Menzah | Hard | [53] |
 Greece | 1–3 | Lithuania [5] | Heraklion | Lyttos Beach Tennis Academy | Hard | [54] |
 Denmark | 4–1 | Thailand [6] | Kolding | Sydbank Arena | Hard (i) | [55] |
 Poland [7] | 3–1 |  El Salvador | Kalisz | Arena Kalisz | Hard (i) | [56] |
| Slovenia [8] | 3–1 |  Paraguay | Portorož | Tennis Centre Portoroz | Clay | [57] |
| Turkey [9] | 4–0 |  Latvia | Istanbul | Enka Spor Kulubu | Hard | [58] |
| South Africa [10] | 4–0 | Venezuela | New York (United States) | Forest Hills Stadium | Hard | [59] |
| Chinese Taipei [11] | w/o |  Morocco | — | — | — | [60] |
| Barbados [12] | 3–1 |  Indonesia | Saint Michael | National Tennis Centre | Hard | [61] |
Qualifying round
Date: 6–7 March 2020
Twenty-four teams played for the twelve spots in the World Group II, in series decided on a home and away basis.
These twenty-four teams are:
- 12 losing teams from their Group II zone:
- 12 teams from their Group III zone:
- 4 from Europe
- 3 from Asia/Oceania,
- 3 from Americas, and
- 2 from Africa.
The 12 winning teams from the play-offs will play at the World Group II and the 12 losing teams will play at the Group III of the corresponding continental zone.
|
Seeded teams |
Unseeded teams
|
| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latvia | 4–1 |  Egypt | Jūrmala | National Tennis Centre Lielupe | Hard (i) | [62] |
| Paraguay | 4–0 |  Sri Lanka | Asunción | Club Internacional de Tenis | Clay | [63] |
| Morocco | 4–0 |  Vietnam | Marrakesh | Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech | Clay | [64] |
| Indonesia | 4–0 |  Kenya | Jakarta | Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex | Hard | [65] |
 Guatemala | 1–3 | Tunisia | Guatemala City | Federación Nacional De Tenis | Hard | [66] |
 Costa Rica | 1–4 | Bulgaria | San José | Costa Rica Country Club | Hard | [67] |
| Poland | 4–0 |  Hong Kong | Kalisz | Arena Kalisz | Hard (i) | [68] |
| Zimbabwe | 3–1 |  Syria | Harare | Harare Sports Club | Hard | [69] |
 Philippines | 1–4 | Greece | Metro Manila | Philippine Columbian Association | Clay (i) | [70] |
| Denmark | 5–0 |  Puerto Rico | Holbæk | Holbæk Sportsby | Hard (i) | [71] |
| El Salvador | 3–1 |  Jamaica | San Salvador | Polideportivo de Ciudad Merliot | Hard | [72] |
 Georgia | 1–4 | Estonia | Tbilisi | Alex Metreveli Tennis Club | Hard | [73] |
Knock-out round
Date: 26–28 November 2021
Four teams played in this round, in series decided on a home and away basis.
These four teams were the four lowest-ranked winners of World Group II.
The two winning teams will play at the World Group I play-offs and the two losing teams will play at the World Group II Play-Offs in 2022.
#: Nations ranking as of 20 September 2021.
| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunisia [1] | 4–0 | Zimbabwe | Tunis | Tennis Club de Tunis | Clay | [74] |
| Morocco | 1–3 | Denmark [2] | Marrakesh | Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech | Clay | [75] |
Americas Zone
Group III
Dates: 30 June–3 July 2021 [76]
Location: Centro de Alto Rendimineto Fred Maduro, Panama City, Panama (clay)
The first two nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
Teams
|
|
Inactive Teams
Promotions
- Jamaica and Guatemala qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
Asia/Oceania Zone
Group III
Dates: 15–18 September 2021 [77]
Location: Jordan Tennis Federation, Amman, Jordan (hard)
The first three nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
Teams
|
|
Promotions/Relegations
- Hong Kong, Vietnam and Pacific Oceania qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
Kuwait, 
Qatar and Sri Lanka are relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group IV
Group IV
Dates: 18–23 October 2021 [78]
Location: Bahrain Tennis Federation Courts, Isa Town, Bahrain (hard)
The first three nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III
Teams
|
|
Inactive Teams
Promotions
Iran, 
Saudi Arabia and 
United Arab Emirates are promoted to 2022 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III
Europe Zone
Group III
Dates: 16–19 June 2021 [77]
Location: Herodotou Tennis Academy, Larnaca, Cyprus (hard)
The first three nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
The last two nations (excluding 
Liechtenstein) are relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group IV
Teams
|
Promotions/Relegations
Cyprus, 
Ireland and 
Monaco qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
Iceland and 
Malta are relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group IV
Group IV
Dates: 22–26 June 2021 [78]
Location: Tennis Club Jug, Skopje, North Macedonia (clay)
The first four nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group III
Teams
Promotions
Armenia, 
Moldova, 
Montenegro and 
North Macedonia are promoted to the 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group III.
Africa Zone
Group III
Dates: 11–14 August 2021 [77]
Location: Smash Academy, Cairo, Egypt (clay)
The first two nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
Teams
|
Promotions/Relegations
- Egypt and
Benin qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs. 
Rwanda and 
Ghana were relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Africa Zone Group IV.
Group IV
Dates: 21–26 June 2021 [78]
Location: Complexe Sportif La Concorde, Brazzaville, Congo (hard)
The first two nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup Africa Zone Group III
Teams
Inactive Teams
Promotions
Ivory Coast and 
Namibia are promoted to the 2022 Davis Cup Africa Zone Group III.
References
- "Rakuten to Become New Global Partner for Davis Cup". DavisCup.com. 4 June 2019.
- "ITF introduces global format for Davis Cup Groups I and II". Daviscup.com. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
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- "Madrid chosen as host city for 2019, 2020 Davis Cup finals". Daviscup.com. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- "Innsbruck and Turin join Madrid as hosts of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals 2021". Daviscup.com. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- "Wild cards announced for 2020 Finals". Daviscup.com. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- "Seeds announced for Davis Cup Finals 2020". Daviscup.com. 9 March 2020.
- "Davis Cup - Rankings". Daviscup.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- "Date confirmed for 2020 qualifiers draw". Daviscup.com. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
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