The Davis Cup has largely been dominated by the US and Australia throughout its 126-year history.
The US won the first-ever tournament in 1900, and have gone on to win the tournament 32 times in total.
The nation’s last Davis Cup triumph came in 2007, when Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan Brothers defeated Russia in the final.
Australia have also been extremely successful, having won the event 28 times since 1900. The country last won the competition in 2003.
In the last 55 years, Sweden, Italy, West Germany, Spain and the US have all won the tournament twice consecutively.
However, no team has won the tournament thrice consecutively since 1972
The USA won the Davis Cup five times consecutively
Between 1968 and 1972, the USA won five consecutive Davis Cup titles.
In 1968, the US began their run by winning the last ‘amateur’ Davis Cup. Captained by Donald Dell and led by star player Arthur Ashe, the American team defeated Australia in Adelaide to win the title.
In 1969, Ashe again played a leading role alongside Stan Smith and Bob Lutz as the team defeated Romania 5-0 in the Davis Cup final.
The US again completed a clean sweep in 1970, defeating West Germany 5-0 in the final. Ashe, Smith, Lutz and Cliff Richey all contributed to the final result.
In a repeat of the 1969 final, the US again faced Romania in the 1971 final. This time the match was a lot closer, but the US still emerged victorious: by three wins to two.
Stan Smith was the leading man in the final, contributing to all three of the US’s match wins.
In 1972, the US completed the five-peat, defeating Chile 5-0 in the Davis Cup final.
The big 1972 Davis Cup change
In 1972, the Davis Cup made a significant change to the format of their tournament, one that would make it harder for countries to win repeat titles.
Before 1972, the winners of the Davis Cup would receive a bye to the Challenger Round at the next tournament. The Challenger Round was, in effect, the final.
From 1972, the defending champion would participate in all matches, rather than receiving a bye to the final.
The Challenger Round was abolished, and the winner of the Inter-Zonal Zone would be crowned Davis Cup champions.
