1979 Davis Cup

Last updated

1979 Davis Cup
Details
DurationAugust 1978 – 16 December 1979
Edition68th
Teams49
Champion
Winning nationFlag of the United States.svg  United States
1978
1980

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.

Contents

Following years of protests from various national sides, South Africa were expelled from the Davis Cup for failing to abandon its apartheid policies. For many years the Davis Cup organisers had been reluctant to let political issues affect the competition, however following several years of defaults by national teams and threats of a boycott, the organisers of the tournament were forced to resolve the political disagreements by expelling the South African side. [1] Canada, Mexico, Venezuela and the Caribbean/West Indies teams had all pulled out of the 1978 tournament, and in 1977 the United States, Great Britain and France had all withdrawn in protest to the continued politicisation of the Cup before eventually re-entering following concessions. [2] [3] South Africa would not be allowed to participate again in the Davis Cup until 1992, when significant progress had been made to bring about the end of apartheid.

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

In the Inter-Zonal Zone, the United States defeated Australia and Italy defeated Czechoslovakia in the semifinals. The United States then defeated Italy in the final to win their 26th title overall and their second consecutive title. The final was held at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, United States on 14–16 December. [4] [5]

Americas Zone

North & Central America Zone

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico (clay)
bye
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 3
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2
bye
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia
bye
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 4
Nassau, Bahamas
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg  Venezuela 1
Flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962).svg  Caribbean/West Indies 2
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg  Venezuela 3

Main Draw

Semifinals
8–10 December 1978
Final
16–18 March
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Cleveland, Ohio, United States (indoor hard)
bye
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 5
Mexico City, Mexico (clay)
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 0
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 3

South America Zone

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Guayaquil, Ecuador (indoor carpet)
bye
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 4
Guayaquil, Ecuador (indoor carpet)
Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  Ecuador 1
Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  Ecuador 4
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 1
Cochabamba, Bolivia (clay)
Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia 0
Itu, Brazil
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 5
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 4
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 0
bye
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay

Main Draw

Semifinals
8–10 December 1978
Final
16–18 March
Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay)
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 5
Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay)
Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 0
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 2
bye
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile

Americas Inter-Zonal Final

United States vs. Argentina

Flag of the United States.svg
United States
4
Racquet Club of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, United States [6]
14–16 September 1979
Carpet (indoors)
Flag of Argentina.svg
Argentina
1
12345
1 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Argentina.svg
Vitas Gerulaitis
José Luis Clerc
6
1
7
5
6
1
   
2 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Argentina.svg
John McEnroe
Guillermo Vilas
6
2
6
3
6
2
   
3 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Argentina.svg
Bob Lutz  /  Stan Smith
José Luis Clerc  /  Guillermo Vilas
2
6
4
6
11
9
6
4
6
1
 
4 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Argentina.svg
John McEnroe
José Luis Clerc
6
2
6
3
    
5 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Argentina.svg
Vitas Gerulaitis
Guillermo Vilas
7
9
3
0
   retired
 

Eastern Zone

Preliminary rounds

Pre-qualifying roundPreliminary round
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
bye
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
Peshawar, Pakistan
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan w/o
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 3
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea 2
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei w/o
Jakarta, Indonesia
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 0
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 4
bye
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
5–10 December 1978
Semifinals
9–12 February
Final
16–19 March
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand (grass)
bye
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3
Kasuga, Japan
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 0
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 4
Christchurch, New Zealand (grass)
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 1
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2
Ahmedabad, India
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 1
Madras, India (clay)
Flag of India.svg  India 4
Flag of India.svg  India 2
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3
bye
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

Final

New Zealand vs. Australia

Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
2
Wilding Park, Christchurch, New Zealand [7]
16–19 March 1979
Grass
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
3
12345
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Onny Parun
Mark Edmondson
3
6
6
3
6
3
6
2
  
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Russell Simpson
John Alexander
4
6
6
4
5
7
4
6
  
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Onny Parun  /  Russell Simpson
John Alexander  /  Phil Dent
4
6
7
9
3
6
   
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Russell Simpson
Mark Edmondson
3
6
2
6
4
6
   
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Onny Parun
John Alexander
7
5
6
3
6
3
   

Europe Zone

Zone A

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland
Warsaw, Poland
bye
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 4
Helsinki, Finland
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 5
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 0
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Palermo, Italy (clay)
bye
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 5
Athens, Greece (clay)
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 1
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 4
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Vienna, Austria
bye
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 5
Cairo, Egypt (clay)
Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt 0
Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt 5
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 0
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain
Barcelona, Spain
bye
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 5
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 0
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 1
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 4

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
15–17 June
Semifinals
13–15 July
Final
14–16 September
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
Rome, Italy (clay)
bye
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2
Warsaw, Poland
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 3
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 1
Rome, Italy (clay)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 4
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 4
Vienna, Austria
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1
Eastbourne, United Kingdom (grass)
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 3
Flag of Spain (1977-1981).svg  Spain 1
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 4
bye
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain

Final

Italy vs. Great Britain

Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
4
Foro Italico, Rome, Italy [8]
14–16 September 1979
Clay
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Great Britain
1
12345
1 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Adriano Panatta
Buster Mottram
0
6
4
6
4
6
   
2 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Corrado Barazzutti
John Lloyd
6
1
6
4
6
4
   
3 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Corrado Barazzutti  /  Antonio Zugarelli
Mark Cox  /  David Lloyd
7
5
10
8
6
1
   
4 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Adriano Panatta
John Lloyd
6
3
6
2
6
3
   
5 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Corrado Barazzutti
Buster Mottram
8
6
7
5
    

Zone B

Pre-qualifying round

Pre-qualifying round
Ankara, Turkey
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 0
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran 5

Preliminary rounds

First RoundQualifying Round
Amersfoort, Netherlands (clay)
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 4
Amsterdam, Netherlands (indoor carpet)
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2
Flag of France.svg  France 3
bye
Flag of France.svg  France
Geneva, Switzerland
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 3
Zürich, Switzerland
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran 2
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 4
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 1
bye
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel w/o
Augsburg, West Germany
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 2
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 3
bye
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Brussels, Belgium
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 5
Brussels, Belgium
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 0
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 4
bye
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania

Main Draw

Quarterfinals
15–17 June
Semifinals
13–15 July
Final
14–16 September
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Paris, France (clay)
bye
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 4
Paris, France (clay)
Flag of France.svg  France 1
Flag of France.svg  France 5
Prague, Czechoslovakia (clay)
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 0
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 3
Bucharest, Romania (clay)
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 4
Bucharest, Romania (clay)
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 1
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 2
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3
bye
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden

Final

Czechoslovakia vs. Sweden

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czechoslovakia
3
Štvanice Stadium, Prague, Czechoslovakia [9]
14–16 September 1979
Clay
Flag of Sweden.svg
Sweden
2
12345
1 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Flag of Sweden.svg
Tomáš Šmíd
Kjell Johansson
6
4
6
3
6
2
   
2 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Flag of Sweden.svg
Ivan Lendl
Björn Borg
4
6
5
7
2
6
   
3 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Flag of Sweden.svg
Jan Kodeš  /  Tomáš Šmíd
Ove Bengtson  /  Björn Borg
2
6
6
3
6
4
6
0
  
4 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Flag of Sweden.svg
Ivan Lendl
Kjell Johansson
8
10
6
4
6
4
4
6
6
1
 
5 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Flag of Sweden.svg
Tomáš Šmíd
Per Hjertquist
3
5
    retired
 

Inter-Zonal Zone

Draw

Semifinals
5–8 October
Final
14–16 December
Sydney, Australia (grass)
AMEFlag of the United States.svg  United States 4
San Francisco, United States (indoor carpet)
EASFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1
AMEFlag of the United States.svg  United States 5
Rome, Italy (clay)
EUR-AFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 0
EUR-BFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 1
EUR-AFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 4

Semifinals

Australia vs. United States

Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
1
White City Stadium, Sydney, Australia [10]
5–8 October 1979
Grass
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
4
12345
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Mark Edmondson
Vitas Gerulaitis
8
6
16
14
8
10
3
6
3
6
 
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of the United States.svg
John Alexander
John McEnroe
7
9
2
6
7
9
   
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of the United States.svg
John Alexander  /  Phil Dent
Bob Lutz  /  Stan Smith
9
7
6
4
6
4
   
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of the United States.svg
John Alexander
Vitas Gerulaitis
7
5
4
6
6
8
2
6
  
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of the United States.svg
Mark Edmondson
John McEnroe
3
6
4
6
    

Italy vs. Czechoslovakia

Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
4
Foro Italico, Rome, Italy [11]
5–7 October 1979
Clay
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czechoslovakia
1
12345
1 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Corrado Barazzutti
Tomáš Šmíd
1
6
6
3
1
6
6
3
5
7
 
2 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Adriano Panatta
Ivan Lendl
6
4
1
6
6
0
6
0
  
3 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Paolo Bertolucci  /  Adriano Panatta
Jan Kodeš  /  Tomáš Šmíd
6
8
6
2
6
1
6
2
  
4 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Corrado Barazzutti
Ivan Lendl
4
6
6
1
6
2
3
6
7
5
 
5 Flag of Italy.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Adriano Panatta
Tomáš Šmíd
6
3
6
2
    

Final

United States vs. Italy

Flag of the United States.svg
United States
5
Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, United States [5]
14–16 December 1979
Carpet (indoors)
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
0
12345
1 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Vitas Gerulaitis
Corrado Barazzutti
6
2
3
2
    
retired
2 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Italy.svg
John McEnroe
Adriano Panatta
6
2
6
3
6
4
   
3 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Bob Lutz  /  Stan Smith
Paolo Bertolucci  /  Adriano Panatta
6
4
12
10
6
2
   
4 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Italy.svg
John McEnroe
Antonio Zugarelli
6
4
6
3
6
1
   
5 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Italy.svg
Vitas Gerulaitis
Adriano Panatta
6
1
6
3
6
3
   

References

  1. "South Africa Expelled from Cup Play". Toledo Blade . Associated Press. April 17, 1978. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  2. "Canada heads pullout from 1978 Davis Cup". Montreal Gazette . Reuters. July 4, 1977. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  3. "U.S. Withdraws from Davis Cup". Deseret News . Associated Press. July 1, 1976. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  4. Bud Collins (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 495–496, 499. ISBN   978-0942257700.
  5. 1 2 "United States v Italy". daviscup.com.
  6. "United States v Argentina". daviscup.com.
  7. "New Zealand v Australia". daviscup.com.
  8. "Italy v Great Britain". daviscup.com.
  9. "Czechoslovakia v Sweden". daviscup.com.
  10. "Australia v United States". daviscup.com.
  11. "Italy v Czechoslovakia". daviscup.com.