1978 Davis Cup

Last updated

1978 Davis Cup
Details
Duration27 August 1977 – 10 December 1978
Edition67th
Teams50
Champion
Winning nationFlag of the United States.svg  United States
1977
1979

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.

Contents

The United States defeated Chile in the Americas Inter-Zonal final, Australia defeated New Zealand in the Eastern Zone final, and Great Britain and Sweden were the winners of the two Europe Zones, defeating Czechoslovakia and Hungary respectively.

In the Inter-Zonal Zone, the United States defeated Sweden and Great Britain defeated Australia in the semifinals. The United States then defeated Great Britain in the final to win their 25th title overall and their first since 1972. The final was held at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, United States on 8–10 December. [1] [2]

Political controversy

The competition was significantly marked by political issues: Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, and the Caribbean/West Indies all withdrew from the North & Central America Zone due to the continued presence of South Africa in the competition, despite continued international condemnation of their government's apartheid policies. [3]

The North & Central America Zone final between the United States and South Africa, held at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, attracted crowds of up to 5,000 protesters each day, and efforts by the South African side to appease critics by nominating Peter Lamb as its first "coloured" player were derided by some as tokenism, given he did not actually play during the tie and was a student enrolled at Vanderbilt University at the time of the tournament. [4] [5] [6]

The Soviet Union continued to be barred for competing following its refusal to compete against Chile in the 1976 semifinals and its promised refusal to compete against South Africa.

Americas Zone

North & Central America Zone

South America Zone

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Santiago, Chile
bye
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 5
Lima, Peru
Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 0
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 0
Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 5
Montevideo, Uruguay (clay)
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 3
Montevideo, Uruguay
Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  Ecuador 2
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 4
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 1
bye
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil

Main Draw

Semifinals
18–20 December 1977
Final
17–19 March
Santiago, Chile
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 5
Santiago, Chile (clay)
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 0
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 3
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2
bye
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina

Americas Inter-Zonal Final

Chile vs. United States

Flag of Chile.svg
Chile
2
Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile [7]
15–17 September 1978
Clay [8]
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
3
12345
1 Flag of Chile.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Jaime Fillol
Brian Gottfried
4
6
5
7
2
6
   
2 Flag of Chile.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Hans Gildemeister
Harold Solomon
5
7
6
3
3
6
1
6
  
3 Flag of Chile.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Jaime Fillol  /  Belus Prajoux
Brian Gottfried  /  John McEnroe
6
3
3
6
6
8
3
6
  
4 Flag of Chile.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Jaime Fillol
Harold Solomon
6
3
6
2
    
5 Flag of Chile.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Hans Gildemeister
Brian Gottfried
4
6
7
5
12
10
   

Eastern Zone

Preliminary rounds

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
9–12 December 1977
Semifinals
19–22 January
Final
24–26 February
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tokyo, Japan (clay)
bye
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 5
Tokyo, Japan
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 0
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 1
Adelaide, Australia (grass)
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 4
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4
Coimbatore, India
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 0
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea 1
New Delhi, India
Flag of India.svg  India 4
Flag of India.svg  India 1
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 4
bye
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand

Final

Australia vs. New Zealand

Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
4
Memorial Drive, Adelaide, Australia [9]
24–26 February 1978
Grass
Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
0
12345
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Tony Roche
Chris Lewis
13
11
6
3
6
2
   
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
John Alexander
Brian Fairlie
6
4
6
4
6
4
   
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
John Alexander  /  Tony Roche
Brian Fairlie  /  Chris Lewis
6
3
6
4
12
14
4
6
6
1
 
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
John Alexander
Chris Lewis
8
10
16
14
6
1
9
7
  
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Allan Stone
Brian Fairlie
2
6
6
1
   not
completed

Europe Zone

Zone A

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 5
Monte Carlo, Monaco (clay)
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 0
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 0
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 5
bye
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Tel Aviv, Israel (hard)
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 5
Tel Aviv, Israel (hard)
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 0
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 2
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 3
bye
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Prague, Czechoslovakia (indoor clay)
bye
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 3
Zeist, Netherlands (clay)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 4
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 1
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Warsaw, Poland
bye
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 4
Algiers, Algeria (clay)
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran 1
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 1
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran 4

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
16–18 June
Semifinals
13–15 July
Final
15–17 September
Flag of France.svg  France
Paris, France (clay)
bye
Flag of France.svg  France 2
Bristol, United Kingdom (grass)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 3
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 5
Eastbourne, United Kingdom (grass)
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 0
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 5
Prague, Czechoslovakia (clay)
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 0
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 3
Prague, Czechoslovakia (clay)
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 2
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 5
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 0
bye
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania

Final

Great Britain vs. Czechoslovakia

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
5
Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, United Kingdom [10]
15–17 September 1978
Grass
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czechoslovakia
0
12345
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
John Lloyd
Jiří Hřebec
9
7
6
3
4
6
5
7
12
10
 
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Buster Mottram
Ivan Lendl
6
4
7
5
7
5
   
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Mark Cox  /  David Lloyd
Jan Kodeš  /  Tomáš Šmíd
6
4
13
15
6
4
2
6
6
4
 
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Mark Cox
Ivan Lendl
6
2
6
4
6
3
   
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Buster Mottram
Jiří Hřebec
5
7
3
6
6
3
6
4
6
0
 

Zone B

Pre-qualifying round

Pre-qualifying round
Casablanca, Morocco
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 5
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 0

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Casablanca, Morocco (clay)
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 4
Casablanca, Morocco
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 0
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 5
bye
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
Dublin, Ireland (grass)
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 4
Dublin, Ireland (indoor hard)
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 1
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 0
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 5
bye
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
Pécs, Hungary
bye
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 4
Brussels, Belgium (clay)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 3
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2
Lucerne, Switzerland
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 5
Zürich, Switzerland
Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt 0
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 0
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 5
bye
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
13–18 June
Semifinals
13–16 July
Final
15–17 September
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain
Båstad, Sweden (clay)
bye
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 2
Belgrade, Yugoslavia (clay)
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 2
Båstad, Sweden (clay)
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3
Budapest, Hungary
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 1
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 3
Budapest, Hungary
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 2
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 4
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1
bye
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Final

Sweden vs. Hungary

Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
3
Båstad Tennis Stadium, Båstad, Sweden [11]
15–17 September 1978
Clay
Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
1
12345
1 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg
Kjell Johansson
Balázs Taróczy
7
5
6
2
6
4
   
2 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg
Björn Borg
Péter Szőke
6
2
6
0
6
0
   
3 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg
Ove Bengtson  /  Tenny Svensson
Péter Szőke  /  Balázs Taróczy
2
6
1
6
10
12
   
4 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg
Kjell Johansson
Péter Szőke
3
6
7
5
6
1
3
6
6
1
 
5 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of Hungary.svg
Tenny Svensson
Balázs Taróczy
2
6
6
4
5
5
  not
completed

Inter-Zonal Zone

Draw

Semifinals
6–8 October
Final
8–10 December
Gothenburg, Sweden (indoor carpet)
EUR-BFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2
Rancho Mirage, CA, United States (hard)
AMEFlag of the United States.svg  United States 3
AMEFlag of the United States.svg  United States 4
London, United Kingdom (indoor carpet)
EUR-AFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1
EASFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2
EUR-AFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 3

Semifinals

Sweden vs. United States

Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
2
Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden [12]
6–8 October 1978
Carpet (indoors)
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
3
12345
1 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Björn Borg
Arthur Ashe
6
4
7
5
6
3
   
2 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Kjell Johansson
Vitas Gerulaitis
2
6
1
6
4
6
   
3 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Ove Bengtson  /  Björn Borg
Bob Lutz  /  Stan Smith
6
2
3
6
6
3
5
7
3
6
 
4 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Kjell Johansson
Arthur Ashe
2
6
0
6
5
7
   
5 Flag of Sweden.svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Björn Borg
Vitas Gerulaitis
6
3
6
1
    

Great Britain vs. Australia

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
3
National Sports Centre, London, United Kingdom [13]
6–8 October 1978
Carpet (indoors)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2
12345
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Buster Mottram
Tony Roche
8
6
3
6
7
5
6
4
  
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
John Lloyd
John Alexander
7
5
6
2
6
2
   
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Mark Cox  /  David Lloyd
Ross Case  /  Geoff Masters
8
6
3
6
6
4
6
3
  
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
John Lloyd
Tony Roche
3
6
3
6
2
6
   
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Buster Mottram
John Alexander
2
6
3
6
2
6
   

Final

United States vs. Great Britain

Flag of the United States.svg
United States
4
Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States [2]
8–10 December 1978
Hard
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
1
12345
1 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
John McEnroe
John Lloyd
6
1
6
2
6
2
   
2 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Brian Gottfried
Buster Mottram
6
4
6
2
8
10
4
6
3
6
 
3 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Bob Lutz  /  Stan Smith
Mark Cox  /  David Lloyd
6
2
6
2
6
3
   
4 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
John McEnroe
Buster Mottram
6
2
6
2
6
1
   
5 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Brian Gottfried
John Lloyd
6
1
6
2
6
4
   

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 "United States v Great Britain". daviscup.com.
  3. "Canada heads pullout from 1978 Davis Cup". Montreal Gazette . Reuters. July 4, 1977. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  4. "African Activist Archive". Africanactivist.msu.edu. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  5. Jim Jerome (March 20, 1978). "Apartheid Critics Say He's Merely a Token, but Peter Lamb's Davis Cup Runneth Over". People.com. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  6. "The Crisis" . Retrieved October 26, 2019 via Google Books.
  7. "Chile v United States". daviscup.com.
  8. "Jaime Fillol vs Brian Gottfried". atptour.com.
  9. "Australia v New Zealand". daviscup.com.
  10. "Great Britain v Czechoslovakia". daviscup.com.
  11. "Sweden v Hungary". daviscup.com.
  12. "Sweden v United States". daviscup.com.
  13. "Great Britain v Australia". daviscup.com.