1977 Davis Cup

Last updated
1977 Davis Cup
Details
Duration25 August 1976 – 4 December 1977
Edition66th
Teams55
Champion
Winning NationFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1976
1978

The 1977 Davis Cup was the 66th edition of the Davis Cup, the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 59 teams would enter the competition, 33 in the Europe Zone, 14 in the Americas Zone, and 12 in the Eastern Zone. Algeria made its first appearance in the tournament.

Contents

Argentina defeated the United States in the Americas Zone final, Australia defeated New Zealand in the Eastern Zone final, and France and Italy were the winners of the two Europe Zones, defeating Romania and Spain respectively.

In the Inter-Zonal Zone, Australia defeated Argentina and Italy defeated France in the semifinals. Australia then defeated the defending champions Italy in the final to win their 24th title overall and their first since 1973. The final was held at the White City Stadium in Sydney, Australia on 2–4 December. [1] [2]

Politics in the Davis Cup

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the Davis Cup had been affected by a number of protests and defaults by teams showing their opposition to the apartheid policies and white minority rule in South Africa and Rhodesia, and the human rights violations which occurred in Chile under Augusto Pinochet's military junta.

Several high-profile incidents included Mexico's refusal to play South Africa in the 1975 and 1976 Americas Zones, widespread protests in Sweden against the Pinochet junta during the 1975 Inter-Zonal semifinal between Sweden and Chile, and South Africa being awarded the Cup by default in 1974 after India refused to travel to South Africa for the final. [3] [4] [5]

This show of political will in a sporting context was not welcomed by some, and for a brief time the United States, the inaugural winner of the cup, announced their decision to withdraw from the competition due to the apparent lenience of the tournament's organisers to prevent defaults by teams. In a show of solidarity, Great Britain and France also announced their intention to withdraw. [6]

In response to these withdrawals, the Davis Cup committee made a greater commitment to keep politics out of the competition. The committee subsequently disqualified the Soviet Union as punishment for refusing to play Chile in the 1976 Inter-Zonal semifinals - the Soviets had already been barred from competing in the Federation Cup for refusing to play against South Africa and Rhodesia - from the tournament. The Soviet Union would have their entry rejected in 1978 after informing officials they would refuse to compete against South Africa.

Proposals were also brought forward to bring in an automatic one-year ban for any nation which pulled out of the tournament after the draw had been made, in an effort to prevent teams from defaulting on political grounds: [7] The United States, Great Britain and France all returned and competed in the 1977 tournament.

Americas Zone

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil
São Paulo, Brazil
bye
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 4
La Paz, Bolivia (clay)
Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg  Bolivia 0
Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg  Bolivia 4
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 1
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay)
bye
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 4
Montevideo, Uruguay (clay)
Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  Ecuador 1
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 2
Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  Ecuador 3
Caracas, Venezuela
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg  Venezuela 4
Caracas, Venezuela
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 0
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg  Venezuela 1
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4
bye
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ottawa, Canada (indoor carpet)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 5
Ottawa, Canada (indoor carpet)
Flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962).svg  Caribbean/West Indies 0
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 3
bye
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
17–19 December 1976
Semifinals
18–20 March; 15–17 April
Final
28 April–1 May
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay)
bye
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 1
São Paulo, Brazil (clay)
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 4
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 2
Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay)
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
Tucson, AZ, United States (hard)
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4
Newport Beach, CA, United States (hard)
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 1
bye
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa

Final

Argentina vs. United States

Flag of Argentina.svg
Argentina
3
Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina [8]
28 April–1 May 1977
Clay
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
2
12345
1 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Ricardo Cano
Dick Stockton
3
6
6
4
8
6
6
4
  
2 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Guillermo Vilas
Brian Gottfried
6
4
6
0
6
2
   
3 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Lito Álvarez  /  Ricardo Cano
Fred McNair  /  Sherwood Stewart
3
6
3
6
3
6
   
4 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Guillermo Vilas
Dick Stockton
5
7
6
2
6
2
6
2
  
5 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Ricardo Cano
Brian Gottfried
5
7
5
7
0
6
   

Eastern Zone

Preliminary rounds

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
2–12 December 1976
Semifinals
21–23 January
Final
11–13 February
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand (grass)
bye
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 5
Jakarta, Indonesia
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 0
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 5
Auckland, New Zealand (grass)
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 0
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 0
New Delhi, India
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 2
Perth, Australia (grass)
Flag of India.svg  India 3
Flag of India.svg  India 0
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 5
bye
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

Final

New Zealand vs. Australia

Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
0
Stanley Street, Auckland, New Zealand [9]
11–13 February 1977
Grass
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
4
12345
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Onny Parun
Mark Edmondson
3
6
5
7
7
5
4
6
  
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Brian Fairlie
John Alexander
3
6
2
6
3
6
   
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Brian Fairlie  /  Onny Parun
John Alexander  /  Phil Dent
1
6
6
3
6
4
1
6
4
6
 
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Onny Parun
John Alexander
11
9
6
4
4
6
3
6
4
6
 
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Chris Lewis
Mark Edmondson
4
6
6
4
4
6
  not
completed

Europe Zone

Zone A

Pre-qualifying rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran
Algiers, Algeria (clay)
bye
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran 4
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 1
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria w/o
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco

Preliminary rounds

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
6–8 May
Semifinals
9–11 June
Final
23–25 July
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
bye
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Warsaw, Poland
Flag of France.svg  France w/o
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 0
Paris, France (clay)
Flag of France.svg  France 5
Flag of France.svg  France 3
Bucharest, Romania (clay)
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 2
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 3
Bucharest, Romania (clay)
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 1
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 4
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1
bye
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain

Final

France vs. Romania

Flag of France.svg
France
3
Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France [10]
23–25 July 1977
Clay
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg
Romania
2
12345
1 Flag of France.svg
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg
François Jauffret
Ilie Năstase
3
6
0
6
6
4
6
3
6
1
 
2 Flag of France.svg
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg
Patrick Proisy
Dumitru Hărădău
6
2
6
4
8
6
   
3 Flag of France.svg
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg
Patrice Dominguez  /  François Jauffret
Ilie Năstase  /  Ion Țiriac
3
6
4
6
6
3
5
7
  
4 Flag of France.svg
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg
François Jauffret
Dumitru Hărădău
6
1
6
4
6
4
   
5 Flag of France.svg
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg
Patrick Proisy
Ilie Năstase
4
6
6
4
6
8
1
6
  

Zone B

Pre-qualifying rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel (hard)
bye
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 5
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 0
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey w/o
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg
bye
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 0
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 5
bye
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Scheveningen, Netherlands (clay)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 5
Scheveningen, Netherlands (clay)
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 0
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 5
bye
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
Athens, Greece (clay)
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 3
Athens, Greece (clay)
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 0
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 5
bye
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Uppsala, Sweden (indoor hard)
bye
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 5
Lisbon, Portugal (clay)
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 0
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 1
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 4
Vienna, Austria
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 5
Vienna, Austria
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 0
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 5
Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt 0
bye
Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
6–8 May
Semifinals
15–25 July
Final
29 July–1 August
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
Budapest, Hungary (clay)
bye
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2
Belgrade, Yugoslavia (clay)
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 3
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 1
Barcelona, Spain (clay)
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 4
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 2
Stockholm, Sweden (indoor carpet)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 3
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 5
Båstad, Sweden (clay)
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 0
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 4
bye
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Final

Spain vs. Italy

Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg
Spain
2
Barcelona, Spain [11]
29 July–1 August 1977
Clay [12]
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
3
12345
1 Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
José Higueras
Corrado Barazzutti
6
4
6
4
6
3
   
2 Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Manuel Orantes
Adriano Panatta
4
6
6
3
3
6
1
6
  
3 Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
José Higueras  /  Antonio Muñoz
Paolo Bertolucci  /  Adriano Panatta
4
6
5
7
4
6
   
4 Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Manuel Orantes
Corrado Barazzutti
5
7
5
7
1
6
   
5 Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Javier Soler
Adriano Panatta
6
1
6
0
    

Inter-Zonal Zone

Draw

Semifinals
14–16 September
Final
2–4 December
Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay)
AMEFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2
Sydney, Australia (grass)
EASFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3
EASFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3
Rome, Italy (clay)
EUR-AFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 1
EUR-BFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 4
EUR-AFlag of France.svg  France 1

Semifinals

Argentina vs. Australia

Flag of Argentina.svg
Argentina
2
Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina [13]
14–16 September 1977
Clay
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
3
12345
1 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Guillermo Vilas
Phil Dent
6
2
4
6
7
5
6
3
  
2 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Ricardo Cano
John Alexander
4
6
0
6
0
6
   
3 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Ricardo Cano  /  Guillermo Vilas
John Newcombe  /  Phil Dent
2
6
6
4
7
9
6
4
2
6
 
4 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Ricardo Cano
Phil Dent
4
6
4
6
3
6
   
5 Flag of Argentina.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Guillermo Vilas
John Alexander
6
4
7
5
4
6
6
2
  

Italy vs. France

Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
4
Foro Italico, Rome, Italy [14]
14–16 September 1977
Clay
Flag of France.svg
France
1
12345
1 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of France.svg
Adriano Panatta
Patrice Dominguez
6
4
4
6
6
4
3
6
6
3
 
2 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of France.svg
Corrado Barazzutti
François Jauffret
6
4
2
6
2
6
6
2
6
1
 
3 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of France.svg
Paolo Bertolucci  /  Adriano Panatta
Patrice Dominguez  /  François Jauffret
6
1
3
6
9
7
6
1
  
4 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of France.svg
Adriano Panatta
François Jauffret
6
2
6
1
    
5 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of France.svg
Corrado Barazzutti
Patrice Dominguez
2
6
6
0
6
8
   

Final

Australia vs. Italy

Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
3
White City Stadium, Sydney, Australia [2]
2–4 December 1977
Grass
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
1
12345
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Tony Roche
Adriano Panatta
6
3
6
4
6
4
   
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
John Alexander
Corrado Barazzutti
6
2
8
6
4
6
6
2
  
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
John Alexander  /  Phil Dent
Paolo Bertolucci  /  Adriano Panatta
4
6
4
6
5
7
   
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
John Alexander
Adriano Panatta
6
4
4
6
2
6
8
6
11
9
 
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Tony Roche
Corrado Barazzutti
12
12
    not
completed

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italy Davis Cup team</span> Davis Cup tennis team representing Italy

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The 1971 Davis Cup was the 60th edition of the Davis Cup, the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 28 teams entered the Europe Zone, 13 teams entered the Americas Zone, and 9 teams entered the Eastern Zone. Bolivia made its first appearance in the tournament.

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The 1976 Davis Cup was the 65th edition of the Davis Cup, the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 58 teams would enter the competition, 32 in the Europe Zone, 14 in the Americas Zone, and 12 in the Eastern Zone. This year's tournament saw all teams in the Americas Zone competing in one single bracket, with the previous North & Central America and South America sub-zones, and subsequently the Americas Inter-Zonal final, being eliminated. This brought the Americas Zone in line with the outline of the other zones, with the previous year's Americas sub-zone champions progressing to the new Americas main draw semifinals.

The 1978 Davis Cup was the 67th edition of the Davis Cup, the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 50 teams entered the competition, 29 in the Europe Zone, 10 in the Americas Zone, and 11 in the Eastern Zone.

The 1979 Davis Cup was the 68th edition of the Davis Cup, the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 52 teams would enter the competition, 29 in the Europe Zone, 13 in the Americas Zone, and 10 in the Eastern Zone.

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The Americas Zone was one of the three regional zones of the 1975 Davis Cup.

The Americas Zone was one of the three regional zones of the 1976 Davis Cup.

The Europe Zone was one of the three regional zones of the 1977 Davis Cup.

References

  1. Bud Collins (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 495–496, 499. ISBN   978-0942257700.
  2. 1 2 "Australia v Italy". daviscup.com.
  3. "Mexicans Shun Davis Cup Foe". Spokane Daily Chronicle . Associated Press. 8 March 1975. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  4. Anno 75 (1976), Årskalender utgiven av Förlagshuset Norden AB, Malmö, och Svenska Dagbladet, Stockholm, pp. 35, 36.
  5. Seminara, Dave (2009-11-28). "The Year the Davis Cup Felt Empty". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  6. "U.S. Pulls Out of Davis Cup In Protest". Star-News . United Press International. 2 July 1976. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  7. "Soviets Barred from Davis Cup". The Daily Sentinel. United Press International. 8 November 1976. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  8. "Argentina v United States". daviscup.com.
  9. "Argentina v Australia". daviscup.com.
  10. "France v Romania". daviscup.com.
  11. "Spain v Italy". daviscup.com.
  12. "Manuel Orantes vs Adriano Panatta". atptour.com.
  13. "Argentina v Australia". daviscup.com.
  14. "Italy v France". daviscup.com.