Australia Davis Cup team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Australia
Association	Tennis Australia
Captain	Lleyton Hewitt
Coach	Josh Eagle
ITF ranking	2 (2 February 2023)
Colors	Green & Gold
First year	1923 (1905 as Australasia)
Years played	102
Ties played (W–L)	266 (193–73)
Years in World Group	34 (56–29)
Davis Cup titles	28 (1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1914, 1919, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1977, 1983, 1986, 1999, 2003)
Runners-up	21 (1912, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1936, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1954, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1990, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2022, 2023)
Most total wins	Lleyton Hewitt (59–21)
Most singles wins	Lleyton Hewitt (42–14)
Most doubles wins	Todd Woodbridge (25–7)
Best doubles team	Mark Woodforde / Todd Woodbridge (14–2)
Most ties played	Lleyton Hewitt (43)
Most years played	Lleyton Hewitt (19)
Last updated on: 6 September 2022.

The Australia Davis Cup team is the second most successful team ever to compete in the Davis Cup, winning the coveted title on 28 separate occasions, second behind the United States with 32.

Australia also participated in winning the Davis Cup six times with New Zealand under the alias Australasia (1905–1922).

History

Australasia: 1905–1922

While Australia and New Zealand have been two separate countries, the two countries did compete together under the alias Australasia in a number of sports, including Davis Cup in the first couple of decades of the 20th century.

Australian players began playing Davis Cup tennis in 1905 as a part of the Australasia Davis Cup team, which allowed players from New Zealand to compete on the same team. Despite players from New Zealand being eligible to represent Australasia, Anthony Wilding was the only New Zealander to play for the team while it existed.

During this period, the team won the Davis Cup on six occasions in 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1914 and 1919.

In 1920, Australasia lost in the challenge round to the United States Davis Cup team 0–5 at home in Auckland. The team then reached the final in 1921 before again making the challenge round in 1922. The team lost 1–4 against the United States, away in New York City. This was the last ever tournament under the Australasia moniker before the nations began competing as separate entities.

The fledgling years: 1923–1937

In the first tournament as the stand-alone Australia team, the side reached the challenge round, again losing 1–4 to the United States in New York City. The following year, Australia beat Japan 5–0 in the America Zone to qualify for the Inter-zonal final, where they defeated France 3–2 to set up another Challenge round rematch against the US for the third consecutive year. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be for Australia, this time losing 0–5 in Philadelphia. France were able to enact revenge in 1925 when they defeated Australia 3–1 in the inter-zonal final.

The following few years would prove to be a lean spell for Australia, as they were either absent from the competition or were knocked out in the early rounds until they returned to form in 1933. Beginning the tournament from the second round of the Europe Zone, they won three ties before losing to eventual champions, Great Britain in the Europe Zone final. They went one round further in 1934, losing 2–3 to the United States in the inter-zonal final. In 1936, Australia won three ties to set up a Challenge round Final against Great Britain. Great Britain made use of the home ground advantage, winning 3–2 at the All England club in Wimbledon, London. 1937 would see Australia lose 0–5 in the America Zone final to eventual champions, United States. However this would spark a period of significant dominance for Australia.

Dominance

From 1937 to 1973, the only teams to win the Davis Cup were Australia and the U.S., in which 31 times were between one another. Australia won the Davis Cup title 17 times in 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1973.

Between 1938 and 1968, Australia participated in the challenge round for a consecutive 25 years, winning 16 titles and losing 9 times. This streak included earning the record for most consecutive titles with four. This accomplishment was achieved on three separate occasions, in 1950 to 1953, 1959 to 1962 and 1964 to 1967. Australia also recorded three consecutive titles between 1955 and 1957.

The only decades that Australia didn't win the Davis Cup was in the 1920s, 1940s and 2010s. Australia was runner up eight times during the 1920s and 1940s.

After the 1973 victory, Australia won the title another five times: 1977, 1983, 1986, 1999 and 2003. From 1999 to 2003, Australia reached the final round four times and won in 1999 and 2003.

2000 to 2009

In 2003, Lleyton Hewitt came back from two sets to love down against Roger Federer of Switzerland to win in five sets in the fourth rubber to clinch a Davis Cup final berth. In the final, Australia defeated Spain 3–1 in Melbourne Park in which Mark Philippoussis, with a torn pectoral muscle, defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in five sets.

After Australia's 2003 win over Spain, Australia lost in the 2004 Davis Cup; Sweden beat Australia 4–1. Australia then had to play a world group qualifying match against Morocco, which it won 4–1. Australia solidified its spot in the 2005 Davis Cup world group and breezed through its first round against Austria 5–0. Argentina beat Australia in the next round.

In 2006, Australia managed to defeat Switzerland 3–2 in the fifth rubber in the first round. Australia then beat Belarus statement a 5–0 victory. Australia suffered a 5–0 loss to Argentina in the semifinals.

In the 2007 Davis Cup, Australia lost its first tie against Belgium, putting Australia in the world group playoffs. Australia drew Serbia in Serbia for a world group playoff, and Serbia won 4–1 overall.

The 2008 Davis Cup saw Australia beat Chinese Taipei 4–1 and Thailand 5–0. Australia then advanced to the world group playoffs, where it lost to Chile 3–2.

In the 2009 Davis Cup, Australia beat Thailand 3–2, and the team was drawn to against India in Chennai. Australia refused to play the tie in India for security concerns, so India advanced to the world group playoffs via forfeit.

2010's

In the 2010 Davis Cup, Australia easily advanced through the Asia/Oceania playoffs with 5–0 defeats of Chinese Taipei and Japan. Australia then played a home tie against Belgium, losing 3–2.

For the fourth year in a row, Australia started its 2011 Davis Cup campaign in the Asia/Oceania playoffs. Australia then advanced to the 2011 Davis Cup World Group play-offs, where it received a home tie against seeded Switzerland. Played on grass at the Royal Sydney Golf Club in Sydney, Australia, Australia lost to Switzerland 3–2.

Australia began its 2012 Davis Cup again in the Asia/Oceania playoffs. Australia easily beat for China in the first round with a 5–0 victory and South Korea in the semifinals with a 5–0 win. Australia faced Germany in Hamburg, losing the tie 3–2.

Rivalries

Australia and the United States

Having both teams dominate the competition for 36 years, Australia and the United States have had an intense rivalry in Davis Cup. They have played each other in the Davis Cup final on 29 separate occasions, with Australia leading the head-to-head 15–14. The first Davis Cup final meeting was in 1908 in which Australia triumphed 3–2. In fact, Australia won the first three Davis Cup final ties between the two, in the aforementioned 1908, 1909 and 1911. The final Davis Cup meeting between the pair was in 1990, in which the U.S. won 3–1.

In recent years, the rivalry has waned, while the two teams had not played each other from 1999 to 2016, when Australia hosted the U.S. in Round 1 of the 2016 Cup. The two teams met again in the second round of the 2017 Davis Cup, which extended their total meetings to 47. As of the completion of the 2017 meeting, the ledger stands at 26–21 in favour of the U.S.

Recent performances

2020–21 Davis Cup – group stage

Australia qualified for the Davis Cup finals but did not advance past the group stage. They finished with an overall match record of 2–1.

Round	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Surface	Details
Qualifying round	6–7 March	Brazil	3–1	Adelaide (AUS)	Hard	Venue: Memorial Drive Park 1 2 3 1 Jordan Thompson Thiago Monteiro 6 4 6 4     2 John Millman Thiago Seyboth Wild 4 6 77 60 6 2   3 James Duckworth / John Peers Marcelo Demoliner / Felipe Meligeni Alves 7 5 5 7 66 78   4 John Millman Thiago Monteiro 66 78 77 63 77 63   5 Jordan Thompson Thiago Seyboth Wild       not played
Finals, Group D	25 November	Croatia	0–3	Turin (ITA)	Hard (i)	Venue: Pala Alpitour 1 2 3 1 Borna Gojo Alexei Popyrin 77 65 7 5     2 Marin Čilić Alex de Minaur 6 1 5 7 6 4   3 Nikola Mektić / Mate Pavić Alex de Minaur / John Peers 6 3 6 1
Finals, Group D	27 November	Hungary	2–1	Turin (ITA)	Hard (i)	Venue: Pala Alpitour 1 2 3 1 John Millman Zsombor Piros 6 4 4 6 3 6   2 Alex de Minaur Márton Fucsovics 7 5 2 6 77 62   3 Alex Bolt / John Peers Fábián Marozsán / Zsombor Piros 6 3 611 713 6 3

2022 Davis Cup – finalist

Australia finished as Davis Cup finalists for the twentieth time. They finished with an overall match record of 5–2.

Round	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Surface	Details
Qualifying round	4–5 March	Hungary	3–2	Sydney (AUS)	Hard	Venue: Ken Rosewall Arena 1 2 3 1 Alex de Minaur Zsombor Piros 7 5 6 2     2 Thanasi Kokkinakis Márton Fucsovics 64 77 6 1 3 6   3 John Peers / Luke Saville Fábián Marozsán / Máté Valkusz 4 6 4 6     4 Alex de Minaur Márton Fucsovics 77 64 6 4     5 Thanasi Kokkinakis Zsombor Piros 6 4 6 4
Finals, Group C	13 September	Belgium	3–0	Hamburg (GER)	Hard (i)	Venue: Am Rothenbaum 1 2 3 1 Zizou Bergs Jason Kubler 4 6 6 1 3 6       2 David Goffin Alex de Minaur 2 6 2 6         3 Sander Gillé / Joran Vliegen Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell 1 6 3 6
Finals, Group C	15 September	France	2–1	Hamburg (GER)	Hard (i)	Venue: Am Rothenbaum 1 2 3 1 Richard Gasquet Jason Kubler 6 2 6 4         2 Benjamin Bonzi Alex de Minaur 3 6 6 1 4 6       3 Nicolas Mahut / Arthur Rinderknech Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell 4 6 4 6
Finals, Group C	18 September	Germany	1–2	Hamburg (GER)	Hard (i)	Venue: Am Rothenbaum 1 2 3 1 Jan-Lennard Struff Max Purcell 6 1 7 5         2 Oscar Otte Thanasi Kokkinakis 66 78 1 6         3 Kevin Krawietz / Tim Pütz Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell 6 4 6 4
Finals, Quarterfinals	22 November	Netherlands	2–0	Malaga (ESP)	Hard (i)	Venue: José María Martín Carpena Arena 1 2 3 1 Tallon Griekspoor Jordan Thompson 6 4 5 7 3 6       2 Botic van de Zandschulp Alex de Minaur 7 5 3 6 4 6       3 Wesley Koolhof / Matwé Middelkoop Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell       not played
Finals, Semifinals	25 November	Croatia	2–1	Malaga (ESP)	Hard (i)	Venue: José María Martín Carpena Arena 1 2 3 1 Thanasi Kokkinakis Borna Ćorić 4 6 3 6     2 Alex de Minaur Marin Čilić 6 2 6 2     3 Max Purcell / Jordan Thompson Nikola Mektić / Mate Pavić 63 77 7 5 6 4
Finals, Final	27 November	Canada	0–2	Malaga (ESP)	Hard (i)	Venue: José María Martín Carpena Arena 1 2 3 1 Denis Shapovalov Thanasi Kokkinakis 6 2 6 4     2 Félix Auger-Aliassime Alex de Minaur 6 3 6 4     3 Félix Auger-Aliassime / Vasek Pospisil Max Purcell / Jordan Thompson       not played

2023 Davis Cup – finalist

Australia finished as Davis Cup finalists for the second consecutive year and thirteenth time overall. They finished with an overall match record of 4–2.

Round	Date	Opponent	Score	Location	Surface	Details
Finals, Group B	13 September	Great Britain	1–2	Manchester (UK)	Hard (i)	Venue: Manchester Arena 1 2 3 1 Thanasi Kokkinakis Jack Draper 7 6 3 6 6 7       2 Alex de Minaur Dan Evans 1 6 6 2 4 6       3 Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell Dan Evans / Neal Skupski 7 6 6 4
Finals, Group B	14 September	France	2–1	Manchester (UK)	Hard (i)	Venue: Manchester Arena 1 2 3 1 Max Purcell Adrian Mannarino 6 7 4 6         2 Alex de Minaur Ugo Humbert 7 6 6 3         3 Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell Nicolas Mahut / Édouard Roger-Vasselin 7 5 6 3
Finals, Group B	16 September	Switzerland	3–0	Manchester (UK)	Hard (i)	Venue: Manchester Arena 1 2 3 1 Thanasi Kokkinakis Dominic Stricker 6 3 7 5         2 Alex de Minaur Marc-Andrea Hüsler 6 4 6 3         3 Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell Dominic Stricker / Marc-Andrea Hüsler 6 2 6 4
Finals, Quarterfinals	22 November	Czech Republic	2–1	Málaga (ESP)	Hard (i)	Venue: José María Martín Carpena Arena 1 2 3 1 Tomáš Macháč Jordan Thompson 6 7     2 Jiří Lehečka Alex de Minaur 6 6 5 4   3 Jiří Lehečka / Adam Pavlásek Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell 4 6 5 7
Finals, Semifinals	24 November	Finland	2–0	Malaga (ESP)	Hard (i)	Venue: José María Martín Carpena Arena 1 2 3 1 Otto Virtanen Alexei Popyrin 6 7 2 6     2 Emil Ruusuvuori Alex de Minaur 4 6 3 6     3 Harri Heliövaara / Patrik Niklas-Salminen Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell       not played
Finals, Final	26 November	Italy	0–2	Malaga (ESP)	Hard (i)	Venue: José María Martín Carpena Arena 1 2 3 1 Alexei Popyrin Matteo Arnaldi 5 7 6 2 4 6   2 Alex de Minaur Jannik Sinner 3 6 0 6     3 Matthew Ebden / Max Purcell Simone Bolelli / Lorenzo Sonego       not played

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2024 Davis Cup Finals Group stage held in Valencia, Spain.
Player information and rankings as of 10 September  2024 (2024 -09-10)^[update] prior to the tournament.

Captains

There have been 19 Davis Cup captains since Australia's first participation in the event in 1905 (as Australasia).

Individual and team records

Record		Details
Youngest player	17 years, 84 days	Vivian McGrath Tie: 1933 Europe Second round vs.  Norway Venue: Oslo, Norway Surface: Clay Date: 12 May 1933 Result: 6–1, 6–1, 6–3 (win)
Oldest player	43 years, 46 days	Norman Brookes Tie: 1920 Challenge round Final vs.  United States Venue: Domain Cricket Club, Auckland, New Zealand Surface: Grass Date: 1 January 1921 Result: 7–5, 5–7, 3–6, 3–6 (loss)
Longest rubber duration	4 hours, 30 minutes	Lleyton Hewitt lost to Kristof Vliegen (BEL) Tie: 2007 World Group First round vs.  Belgium Venue: Country Hall du Sart-Tilman, Liege, Belgium Surface: Clay (indoor) Date: 9 February 2007 Result: 6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 (loss)
Longest tie duration	15 hours, 19 minutes	Australia lost to Belgium Tie: 2007 World Group First round vs.  Belgium Venue: Country Hall du Sart-Tilman, Liege, Belgium Surface: Clay (indoor) Date: 9–11 February 2007 Result: 2–3 (loss)
Longest tie-break	28 points (15–13)	Pat Rafter defeated David Rikl (CZE) Tie: 1997 World Group Quarterfinals vs.  Czech Republic Venue: Memorial Drive Park, Adelaide, Australia Surface: Grass Date: 6 April 1997 Result: 7–6(15–13), 0–6, 6–2 (win)
Longest final set	30 games (16–14)	Tony Wilding (ANZ) defeated Arthur Lowe (GBR) Tie: 1914 Challenge round Final vs.  Great Britain Venue: Longwood Cricket Club, Boston, USA Surface: Grass Date: 6 August 1914 Result: 6–3, 6–1, 16–14 (win) Syd Ball defeated Saeed Meer (PAK) Tie: 1974 Eastern Zone Semifinals vs.  Pakistan Venue: Rawalpindi, Pakistan Surface: Date: 3 May 1974 Result: 6–4, 7–5, 16–14 (win)
Most games in a set	38 (20–18)	Australia (Dibley/Roche) defeated Pakistan (Meer/Rahim) Tie: 1974 Eastern Zone Semifinals vs.  Pakistan Venue: Rawalpindi, Pakistan Surface: Date: 4 May 1974 Result: 20–18, 6–4, 6–3 (win)
Most games in a rubber	99	Australia (Alexander/Dibley) lost to India (Amritraj/Amritraj) Tie: 1974 Eastern Zone Final vs.  India Venue: Calcutta, India Surface: Date: 11 May 1974 Result: 15–17, 8–6, 3–6, 18–16, 4–6 (loss)
Most games in a tie	327	Australia lost to India Tie: 1974 Eastern Zone Final vs.  India Venue: Calcutta, India Surface: Date: 10–12 May 1974 Result: 2–3 (loss)
Most decisive victory (best of 5 rubbers)	15 sets (15–0)	Australia defeated China Tie: 1924 America Zone Quarterfinals vs.  China Venue: Crescent Athletic Club, Brooklyn, NY, USA Surface: Grass Date: 31 July – 1 August 1924 Result: 5–0 (win) Australasia defeated Canada Tie: 1914 Davis Cup Quarterfinals vs.  Canada Venue: Onwentsia, Lake Forest, IL, USA Surface: Grass Date: 23–25 July 1914 Result: 5–0 (win)
Most decisive victory (best of 3 rubbers)	5 sets (6–1)	Australia defeated Colombia Tie: 2019 Finals Group stage (Group D) vs.  Colombia Venue: Caja Magica, Madrid, Spain Surface: Hard (indoor) Date: 19 November 2019 Result: 3–0 (win) Australia defeated Belgium Tie: 2022 Finals Group stage (Group C) vs.  Belgium Venue: Am Rothenbaum, Hamburg, Germany Surface: Hard (indoor) Date: 13 September 2022 Result: 3–0 (win)
Longest winning run	9 ties	From 18 July 1959 to 28 December 1962 # Round Date Venue Opponent Score R 1 North America Semifinals 18–20 Jul 1959 CD Chapultepec, Mexico City, MEX  Mexico 4–1 2 North America Final 24–26 Jul 1959 Mount Royal Tennis Club, Montreal, CAN  Canada 5–0 3 America Final 31 Jul–02 Aug 1959 Mount Royal Tennis Club, Montreal, CAN  Cuba 5–0 4 Inter-zonal Semifinals 7–10 Aug 1959 Germantown Cricket Club, Philadelphia, USA  Italy 4–1 5 Inter-zonal Final 14–16 Aug 1959 Longwood Cricket Club, Boston, USA  India 4–1 6 Challenge round Final 28–31 Aug 1959 Westside Tennis Club, Houston, USA  United States 3–2 7 Challenge round Final 26–28 Dec 1960 White City Stadium, Sydney, AUS  Italy 4–1 8 Challenge round Final 26–28 Dec 1961 Kooyong Stadium, Melbourne, AUS  Italy 5–0 9 Challenge round Final 26–28 Dec 1962 Milton Courts, Brisbane, AUS  Mexico 5–0
Most consecutive Davis Cup Final appearances (all-time)	25	From 1938 to 1968 1938, 1939, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968
Most consecutive Davis Cup Final appearances (since 1981)	3	From 1999 to 2001 Year Date Venue Opponent Score R 1999 3–5 Dec Acropolis Exhibition Hall, Nice, FRA  France 3–2 2000 8–10 Dec Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, ESP  Spain 1–3 2001 30 Nov–2 Dec Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, AUS  France 2–3
Most consecutive Davis Cup titles won	4	on four separate occasions 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1911 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967
Most Davis Cup titles won by a player	8	Roy Emerson 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967
Most Davis Cup titles won by a captain	16	Harry Hopman 1939, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967
Trebles	1	1999 Davis Cup, World Team Cup and Hopman Cup titles 1999 Davis Cup, 1999 World Team Cup and 1999 Hopman Cup
Senior/Junior double	1	1986 Davis Cup and Junior Davis Cup titles 1986 Davis Cup and 1986 Junior Davis Cup
Junior/Junior double	1	2007 Junior Davis Cup / Billie Jean King titles 2007 Junior Davis Cup & Bille Jean King Cup

Most appearances and wins

Performance timeline

Record

Home and away record (since 1981; all 102 match-ups)

• Performance at home (50 match-ups): 41–9 (82.2%)
• Performance away (52 match-ups): 29–23 (55.5%)
• Total: 69–31 (68.8%)

Head-to-head record

Record against continents (since 1981)

Africa	Asia	Europe	North America	Oceania	South America
Morocco  South Africa  Zimbabwe	China  Chinese Taipei  India  Japan  Kazakhstan  South Korea  Uzbekistan	Austria  Belarus  Belgium  Croatia  Czech Republic  France  Germany  Great Britain  Hungary  Italy  Poland  Romania  Russia  Serbia  Slovakia  Spain  Sweden  Switzerland  Yugoslavia	Mexico  United States	New Zealand	Argentina  Brazil  Chile  Ecuador  Paraguay  Peru
Record: 2–2 (50%)	Record: 18–2 (87.5%)	Record: 34–19 (67.3%)	Record: 6–6 (50%)	Record: 3–0 (100%)	Record: 7–4 (63%)

Record by decade

Results

Key to eras and positions result

• Challenge round era (1905–1971): The previous Davis Cup Champion would have a bye to and host the challenge round Final. Thus the losing team in the final (or Inter-zonal final) was the third-placed team. For the purposes of this table, the third placed team is grouped as semifinalists and the Zonal finalists (fourth and fifth placed teams) are grouped as quarterfinalists.
• 1972–1980: The previous Davis Cup Champion now had to compete in all rounds. There were four zones consisting of America, Eastern, Europe A and Europe B, with the competition culminating in a four team knockout between zonal winners. The zonal finalists were the equivalent of Davis Cup quarterfinalists.
• Since 1981: World Group (1981–2018), Davis Cup Finals (from 2019) consisting of 16 or 18 teams.
• Abbreviations: POW = Winner of World Group Playoff (1981–2018); POL = Lost in World Group Playoff (1981–2018); GS = Did not advance past the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals (from 2019); GI SF = Asia/Oceania Group I Semifinalists (1981–2018)

Results table