History of the Davis Cup

The Davis Cup has long been held as one of the finest events a tennis player can be involved with because it is at a level above the individual. It is the pride of the country, the team and the passion for the game.

In 1900, when US player Dwight Davis first donated the trophy and gave his name to a tennis challenge between countries, who would have guessed from the handful of participants back then that the Davis Cup would be hotly contested by literally dozens of countries, so many in fact that the competition was forced into zones just like the World Cup soccer event.

To be sure, Australia has done well over the years in the Davis Cup and for this initial stage it is only right to begin in 1905 when the very first Australians and New Zealanders were treading a path to Wimbledon and our first challenge for the Davis Cup. The following shot comes from the book by Len Richardson “Anthony Wilding – A Sporting Life’ kindly supplied from a supporter Virginia Crawford in New Zealand.

After the formation of the National Lawn Tennis associations in both countries it was agreed that an Australasian team could compete and with Norman Brookes, Alf Dunlop and Tony Wilding (NZ). They were defeated in the final round by USA who then lost to the British Isles 5-0. For the British Isles this was a golden era for tennis with the domination by the two Doherty brothers, Reg and Laurie. In 1906 the Australasian team lost to the USA 3-2 with the team of Wilding and L.O.S. Poidevin but 1907 would be different.

At this time Wilding and Brookes were finding success. 1906 saw Wilding win the second Australian Championship and Brookes actually won the Wimbledon singles in 1907, the first Australian to do so and also the doubles title with Wilding.

In the early Davis Cup challenges, the winning team from the previous year only played the final ‘Challenge Round’ match against the best team from all the challenging countries. The British Isles had been dominant since 1903, however in 1907 Australasia defeated the USA 3-2 in the final round and then went on to the Challenge Round to defeat the British Isles 3-2 in two very hard fought matches.

To the victors came glory via public recognition and the opportunity to defend the cup on home soil. In the 1908 Challenge Round, Australasia played the USA in Melbourne at the then named Warehouseman’s grounds (Albert Ground- St Kilda Rd). Once again Brookes and Wilding teamed against American’s B.C. Wright and F.B. Alexander in another close 3-2 affair in front of a 5000 plus gallery.

The photos below and left come courtesy of the A. Wallis Myers book 50 Years of Wimbledon (1926) & State Library of South Australia and show views of the setting in Melbourne in 1908.

Australasia winning the Davis Cup 1907 for the first time. Brookes and Wilding lost the doubles match here but did win 3-2 losing only the one return singles.

 

View of the court at the Warehouseman’s Ground (St Kilda Rd) Melbourne 1908.
You can see the cup on display as the crowd wait for players to emerge.

Brookes and Wilding (AUST.) playing Wright and Alexander (USA).
Scores in another 5 setter 6-4,6-2,5-7,2-6, 6-4

Note the use of the alternate service position. The US are serving.

This photo came from the book “Lawn Tennis is Australasia” By Austral  R. Kidston

This is one of the only team shots of the 1911 team which played the USA in New Zealand. Anthony Wilding was busy in Europe and elected not to play. Left to right H.Rice, Rod Heath, Alf Dunlop & Norman Brookes. This photo appears in the book “Lawn Tennis in Australasia” by Austral (R.Kidston)

Here is a shot of the 1914 Davis Cup team, also from Len Richardson’s book.

 

 

Davis Cup Team in 1934

Davis Cup Team in 1936

In 1937 the Junior Davis Cup Squad contained some talent.

Davis Cup Squad in 1946 (the team eventually comprised Quist, Bromwich, Pails)

1947 Team comprising John Bromwich, Geoff Brown, Dinny Pails & Colin Long.   Geoff’s blazer.

Both pics courtesy of Leski Auctions.

Amazingly, you can find an old ticket to some of the greatest Davis Cup matches.
They are especially wonderful with the highly informative Davis Cup Programs.

Below is a wonderful photo of Davis Cup players we believe was taken in the early 1970′s.

For more information about the Davis Cup please visit player search.

Davis Cup history website.

Back row. Neale Fraser, Rex Hartwig, Lew Hoad, Ian Ayre, Merv Rose, Ken McGregor, Frank Sedgman, Geoff Brown, Colin Long, Dinny Pails, Len Schwartz, John Bromwich, Adrian Quist, Don Turnbull, Harry Hopman, Cliff Sproule, Jack Hawkes

Centre row. Alan Stone, Richard Crealy, Ray Ruffles, Phil Dent, John Alexander, Bill Bowrey, Tony Roche, John Newcombe, Mal Anderson, Ashley Cooper, Ken Rosewall.

Front row. Mark Edmondson, Sid Ball, Geoff Masters, Bob Giltinan, Colin Dibley, Ross Case.