Russian Davis Cup triumph confirms special stat for second time in 30 years
Daniil Medvedev sealed a first Russian Davis Cup title for 15 years, but it also meant a unique tennis ‘double’ was also completed.
The crown in Madrid was a third for the Russian team, previously taking the championship in 2002 and 2006.
However, the men were not the only Russians to triumph on the sport’s international stage in 2021.
The inaugural Billie Jean King Cup, formerly the Fed Cup, was also won by the Russians.
Led to the final by Roland Garros runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, they defeated Switzerland there to clinch that competition for the fifth time and first since 2008.
The last time a single nation won both international team events in the same year was in 2012, when the Czech Republic won the Fed Cup and Davis Cup.
As a result, 2021 is only the second occurrence since 1990, when the US achieved the same feat.
Since the inception of the Fed Cup in 1963, the feat has been achieved a further nine times.
The US were double champions six more times in 1982, 1981, 1979, 1978, 1969 and 1963.
Australia achieved the feat on the three other occasions, in 1973, 1965 and 1964.
“It feels amazing,” Medvedev said after defeating Marin Cilic to clinch the Cup.
“But, I’m more happy for the team than for myself. We have an amazing team, amazing atmosphere and I’m just happy to be part of this team and being able to bring the points that we needed.”
The Russians started the year in similar fashion by winning the second ever ATP Cup in Australia.
There they defeated Italy 2-0 in the final to stake their claim as the top men’s national tennis team, backing up that claim at the Davis Cup to bookend the season.
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