|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Introduction Throughout the centenary year of 1999, the Davis Cup travelled the globe, encompassing four continents, 10 countries and 18 cities, with an estimated four million casting their eyes upon it.
What could multi-millionaire Harvard student Dwight Davis have envisaged for the competition, when he proposed to the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, that a challenge be thrown open to the British Isles, with a view to staging a match between the two nations? The challenge was accepted and Rowland Rhodes was commissioned to cast the 216oz, solid silver trophy ahead of the inaugural tie, at Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, on Wednesday 8th August 1900. America won 3-1 that time, but the Cup - affectionately known as 'Dwight's Little Pot' - was to soon start its travels. For an idea, decided amongst the dying embers of the 19th Century, the format of the competition hasn't changed, although with the increase of nations competing, more and more Zonal Groups have had to be created.
While retaining the one-on-one nature of tennis combat, the Davis Cup embraces the need for co-operation between members of a team - an essential ingredient that has examined the character and motivation of some huge stars and asked them questions that were not always easy to answer. No one knew what they were starting but there is little doubt that everyone present at the first match, would have been amazed had they been able to foresee the extent of mighty sporting competition that was being unleashed. One hundred and two years later the Davis Cup has not only survived the social changes of history's most turbulent and progressive century but has embraced no fewer than 142 nations, in 2002. For millions of sports enthusiasts around the globe, Davis Cup means tennis.
|
