2020–21 Davis Cup
# 2020–21 Davis Cup

The 2020–21 Davis Cup was the 109th edition of the Davis Cup, a tournament between national teams in men's tennis. It was sponsored by Rakuten. For this edition, the format of the cup was changed. The new format saw the creation of a Davis Cup World Group I and World Group II which was played on a worldwide basis and replaced the regional Group I and Group II. As a result, the Davis Cup nations ranking was no longer used to determine which group a nation was played in. Previous the 2019, and the 2021 finals host Spain were the defending champions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 26 June 2020 the ITF announced that the 2020 finals would take place from 22 until 28 November 2021. In addition, 24 World Group I and World Group II ties were postponed to March and September 2021, and the 2020 regional Group III and Group IV events were also postponed to 2021. The 18 nations that qualified for the finals kept their standing for the next year.

## Davis Cup Finals

Date: 25 November–5 December 2021 Venue: Madrid Arena, Madrid, Spain Olympiahalle, Innsbruck, Austria Pala Alpitour, Turin, Italy Surface: Hard court (indoor)

18 nations took part in the finals, formerly known as World Group. The qualification was as follows:

* 4 semifinalists of the previous edition
* 2 wild card teams (announced by ITF on 23 November 2019 as France and Serbia)
* 12 winners of a qualifier round, in March 2020

H = Host nation, TH = Title holder, WC = Wild card

Participating teams :

| Australia | Austria (H) | Canada | Colombia | Croatia | Czech Republic |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ecuador | France (WC) | Germany | Great Britain | Hungary | Italy (H) |
| Kazakhstan | RTF | Serbia (WC) | Spain (H, TH) | Sweden | United States |

### Seeds

The seedings were based on the Nations ranking of 9 March.

#: Nations ranking as of 9 March 2020.

* Spain (TH, #3)
* Canada (#6)
* France (#1)
* Croatia (#2)
* United States (#5)
* Serbia (#7)

### Qualifying round

Date: 6–7 March 2020

Twenty-six eligible teams were:

* 14 teams ranked 5th-18th in the Finals.
* 12 winning teams from their Group I zone.

Two wild cards for the Finals were selected from these 26 nations. Serbia and France were announced prior to the Qualifiers draw. The remaining 24 nations competed in head-to-head matches, with the 12 winning teams to play at the Finals and the 12 losing teams to play at the World Group I in 2022.

The Davis Cup Qualifiers draw took place on 24 November 2019 at La Caja Mágica.

| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Croatia [1] | 3–1 | India | Zagreb | Dom Sportova | Hard (i) |
| Hungary | 3–2 | Belgium [2] | Debrecen | Főnix Hall | Clay (i) |
| Colombia | 3–1 | Argentina [3] | Bogotá | Palacio de los Deportes | Clay (i) |
| United States [4] | 4–0 | Uzbekistan | Honolulu | Neal S. Blaisdell Center | Hard (i) |
| Australia [5] | 3–1 | Brazil | Adelaide | Memorial Drive Tennis Centre | Hard |
| Italy [6] | 4–0 | South Korea | Cagliari | Circolo Tennis Cagliari | Clay |
| Germany [7] | 4–1 | Belarus | Düsseldorf | Castello Düsseldorf | Hard (i) |
| Kazakhstan [8] | 3–1 | Netherlands | Nur-Sultan | Daulet National Tennis Centre | Hard (i) |
| Slovakia | 1–3 | Czech Republic [9] | Bratislava | AXA Aréna NTC | Clay (i) |
| Austria [10] | 3–1 | Uruguay | Premstätten | Steiermarkhalle Schwarzlsee | Hard (i) |
| Japan [11] | 0–3 | Ecuador | Miki | Bourbon Beans Dome | Hard (i) |
| Sweden [12] | 3–1 | Chile | Stockholm | Kungliga tennishallen | Hard (i) |

### Group stage

* Qualified for the Knockout stage
* Eliminated

T = Ties, M = Matches, S = Sets

| Group | Winner | Winner | Winner | Winner | Runner-up | Runner-up | Runner-up | Runner-up | Third | Third | Third | Third |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Group | Nation | T | M | S | Nation | T | M | S | Nation | T | M | S |
| A | RTF | 2–0 | 5–1 | 11–5 | Spain | 1–1 | 4–2 | 9–7 | Ecuador | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–12 |
| B | Kazakhstan | 2–0 | 5–1 | 10–5 | Sweden | 1–1 | 4–2 | 9–4 | Canada | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–12 |
| C | Great Britain | 2–0 | 4–2 | 8–5 | France | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–8 | Czech Republic | 0–2 | 2–4 | 7–8 |
| D | Croatia | 2–0 | 5–1 | 11–3 | Australia | 1–1 | 2–4 | 6–10 | Hungary | 0–2 | 2–4 | 6–10 |
| E | Italy | 2–0 | 4–2 | 9–5 | Colombia | 1–1 | 3–3 | 8–8 | United States | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–9 |
| F | Germany | 2–0 | 4–2 | 8–5 | Serbia | 1–1 | 4–2 | 9–6 | Austria | 0–2 | 1–5 | 4–10 |

### Knockout stage

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 December, Madrid | 2 December, Madrid | 2 December, Madrid | | | | | | |
| 12 | RTF | 2 | | | | | | |
| 12 | RTF | 2 | 4 December, Madrid | 4 December, Madrid | 4 December, Madrid | | | |
| 13 | Sweden | 0 | 4 December, Madrid | 4 December, Madrid | 4 December, Madrid | | | |
| 13 | Sweden | 0 | 12 | RTF | 2 | | | |
| 30 November, Innsbruck | 30 November, Innsbruck | 30 November, Innsbruck | 12 | RTF | 2 | | | |
| 30 November, Innsbruck | 30 November, Innsbruck | 30 November, Innsbruck | 7 | Germany | 1 | | | |
| 9 | Great Britain | 1 | 7 | Germany | 1 | | | |
| 9 | Great Britain | 1 | | | | 5 December, Madrid | 5 December, Madrid | 5 December, Madrid |
| 7 | Germany | 2 | | | | 5 December, Madrid | 5 December, Madrid | 5 December, Madrid |
| 7 | Germany | 2 | | | | 12 | RTF | 2 |
| 29 November, Turin | 29 November, Turin | 29 November, Turin | | | | 12 | RTF | 2 |
| 29 November, Turin | 29 November, Turin | 29 November, Turin | | | | 4 | Croatia | 0 |
| 8 | Italy | 1 | | | | 4 | Croatia | 0 |
| 8 | Italy | 1 | 3 December, Madrid | 3 December, Madrid | 3 December, Madrid | | | |
| 4 | Croatia | 2 | 3 December, Madrid | 3 December, Madrid | 3 December, Madrid | | | |
| 4 | Croatia | 2 | 4 | Croatia | 2 | | | |
| 1 December, Madrid | 1 December, Madrid | 1 December, Madrid | 4 | Croatia | 2 | | | |
| 1 December, Madrid | 1 December, Madrid | 1 December, Madrid | 6 | Serbia | 1 | | | |
| 6 | Serbia | 2 | 6 | Serbia | 1 | | | |
| 11 | Kazakhstan | 1 | | | | | | |

## World Group I

Date: 5–6 March 2021 or 17–19 September 2021

Twenty-four teams participated in the World Group I, in series decided on a home and away basis. The seedings are based on the Nations ranking of 9 March.

These twenty-four teams were:

* 12 losing teams from the qualifying round
* 12 winning teams from World Group I play-offs

The eight highest-ranked winners (as at 20 September 2021) of the World Group I ties will automatically progress to the 2022 qualifiers. The four lowest-ranked winners (Norway, Peru, Romania and Ukraine) took part in an additional knock-out tie in November 2021, with the two winners progressing to the 2022 qualifiers and two losers contesting the 2022 World Group I play-offs. The losing nations from the World Group I ties will compete in the World Group I Play-Offs in 2022.

#: Nations ranking as of 9 March 2020.

| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Bolivia | 2–3 | Belgium [1] | Asunción (Paraguay) | Rakiura Resort | Clay |
| Argentina [2] | 4–1 | Belarus | Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club | Clay |
| Pakistan | 0–4 | Japan [3] | Islamabad | Pakistan Sports Complex | Grass |
| Uruguay | 0–4 | Netherlands [4] | Montevideo | Carrasco Lawn Tenis Club | Clay |
| Slovakia | 3–1 | Chile [5] | Bratislava | NTC Arena | Hard (i) |
| Finland | 3–1 | India [6] | Espoo | Espoo Metro Areena | Hard (i) |
| Norway | 3–1 | Uzbekistan [7] | Oslo | Oslo Tennis Arena | Hard (i) |
| Lebanon | 0–4 | Brazil [8] | Jounieh | Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon | Clay |
| New Zealand | 1–3 | South Korea [9] | Newport (United States) | International Tennis Hall of Fame | Grass |
| Romania | 3–1 | Portugal [10] | Cluj-Napoca | Horia Demian Sports Hall | Hard (i) |
| Peru | 3–2 | Bosnia and Herzegovina [11] | Lima | Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposición | Clay |
| Ukraine | 3–2 | Israel [12] | Kyiv | Marina Tennis Club | Hard (i) |

### Qualifying round

Date: 6–9 March 2020

Twenty-four teams played for the twelve spots in the World Group I, in series decided on a home and away basis.

These twenty-four teams were:

* 12 losing teams from their Group I zone.
* 12 winning teams from their Group II zone.

The 12 winning teams from the play-offs played at the World Group I and the 12 losing teams played at the World Group II.

| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ukraine | 3–2 | Chinese Taipei | Zaporizhia | Palace of Sports | Hard (i) |
| Pakistan | 3–0 | Slovenia | Islamabad | Pakistan Sports Complex | Grass |
| Bolivia | 3–1 | Dominican Republic | Santa Cruz de la Sierra | Club de Tenis Santa Cruz | Clay |
| Turkey | 1–3 | Israel | Antalya | Club Megasaray Tennis Centre | Clay |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3–1 | South Africa | Zenica | Arena Zenica | Hard (i) |
| Mexico | 2–3 | Finland | Metepec | Club Deportivo La Asunción | Clay |
| Lebanon | 3–1 | Thailand | Jounieh | Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon | Clay |
| New Zealand | 3–1 | Venezuela | Auckland | ASB Tennis Centre | Hard |
| Peru | 3–1 | Switzerland | Lima | Club Lawn Tennis de la Exposición | Clay |
| Norway | 4–0 | Barbados | Oslo | Oslo Tennis Arena | Hard (i) |
| Lithuania | 0–4 | Portugal | Šiauliai | Šiauliai Tennis Academy | Hard (i) |
| Romania | w/o | China | Piatra Neamț | Polyvalent Hall | Hard (i) |

### Knock-out round

Date: 26–28 November 2021

Four teams played in this round, in series decided on a home and away basis.

These four teams were the four lowest-ranked winners of World Group I.

The two winning teams will play at the Qualifiers and the two losing teams will play at the World Group I Play-Offs in 2022.

#: Nations ranking as of 20 September 2021.

| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Norway | 3–1 | Ukraine [1] | Oslo | Oslo Tennis Arena | Hard (i) | |
| Romania | 4–0 | Peru [2] | Cluj-Napoca | Horia Demian Sports Hall | Hard (i) | |

## World Group II

Date: 5–6 March 2021 or 17–19 September 2021

Twenty-four teams participated in the World Group II, in series decided on a home and away basis. The seedings are based on the Nations ranking of 9 March.

These twenty-four teams were:

* 12 losing teams from World Group I play-offs
* 12 winning teams from World Group II play-offs

The eight highest-ranked winners (as at 20 September 2021) of the World Group II ties will automatically progress to the 2022 World Group I play-offs. The four lowest-ranked teams (Denmark, Morocco, Tunisia and Zimbabwe) took part in an additional knock-out tie in November, with the two winners progressing to the 2022 World Group I play-offs and two losers contesting the 2022 World Group II play-offs. The losing nations from the World Group II ties will compete in the World Group II Play-Offs in 2022.

#: Nations ranking as of 9 March 2020.

| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Zimbabwe | w/o | China [1] | Harare | Harare Sports Club | Hard |
| Bulgaria | 1–3 | Mexico [2] | Sofia | Sport Hall Sofia | Hard (i) |
| Switzerland [3] | 5–0 | Estonia | Biel | Swiss Tennis Arena | Hard (i) |
| Tunisia | 3–2 | Dominican Republic [4] | Tunis | Cité Nationale Sportive El Menzah | Hard |
| Greece | 1–3 | Lithuania [5] | Heraklion | Lyttos Beach Tennis Academy | Hard |
| Denmark | 4–1 | Thailand [6] | Kolding | Sydbank Arena | Hard (i) |
| Poland [7] | 3–1 | El Salvador | Kalisz | Arena Kalisz | Hard (i) |
| Slovenia [8] | 3–1 | Paraguay | Portorož | Tennis Centre Portoroz | Clay |
| Turkey [9] | 4–0 | Latvia | Istanbul | Enka Spor Kulubu | Hard |
| South Africa [10] | 4–0 | Venezuela | New York (United States) | Forest Hills Stadium | Hard |
| Chinese Taipei [11] | w/o | Morocco | — | — | — |
| Barbados [12] | 3–1 | Indonesia | Saint Michael | National Tennis Centre | Hard |

### Qualifying round

Date: 6–7 March 2020

Twenty-four teams played for the twelve spots in the World Group II, in series decided on a home and away basis.

These twenty-four teams are:

* 12 losing teams from their Group II zone:
* 12 teams from their Group III zone:
   * 4 from Europe
   * 3 from Asia/Oceania,
   * 3 from Americas, and
   * 2 from Africa.

The 12 winning teams from the play-offs will play at the World Group II and the 12 losing teams will play at the Group III of the corresponding continental zone.

| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Latvia | 4–1 | Egypt | Jūrmala | National Tennis Centre Lielupe | Hard (i) |
| Paraguay | 4–0 | Sri Lanka | Asunción | Club Internacional de Tenis | Clay |
| Morocco | 4–0 | Vietnam | Marrakesh | Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech | Clay |
| Indonesia | 4–0 | Kenya | Jakarta | Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex | Hard |
| Guatemala | 1–3 | Tunisia | Guatemala City | Federación Nacional De Tenis | Hard |
| Costa Rica | 1–4 | Bulgaria | San José | Costa Rica Country Club | Hard |
| Poland | 4–0 | Hong Kong | Kalisz | Arena Kalisz | Hard (i) |
| Zimbabwe | 3–1 | Syria | Harare | Harare Sports Club | Hard |
| Philippines | 1–4 | Greece | Metro Manila | Philippine Columbian Association | Clay (i) |
| Denmark | 5–0 | Puerto Rico | Holbæk | Holbæk Sportsby | Hard (i) |
| El Salvador | 3–1 | Jamaica | San Salvador | Polideportivo de Ciudad Merliot | Hard |
| Georgia | 1–4 | Estonia | Tbilisi | Alex Metreveli Tennis Club | Hard |

### Knock-out round

Date: 26–28 November 2021

Four teams played in this round, in series decided on a home and away basis.

These four teams were the four lowest-ranked winners of World Group II.

The two winning teams will play at the World Group I play-offs and the two losing teams will play at the World Group II Play-Offs in 2022.

#: Nations ranking as of 20 September 2021.

| Home team | Score | Away team | Location | Venue | Surface | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Tunisia [1] | 4–0 | Zimbabwe | Tunis | Tennis Club de Tunis | Clay | |
| Morocco | 1–3 | Denmark [2] | Marrakesh | Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech | Clay | |

## Americas Zone

### Group III

Dates: 30 June–3 July 2021

Location: Centro de Alto Rendimineto Fred Maduro, Panama City, Panama (clay)

The first two nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs

Teams

Inactive Teams

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Aruba
* Haiti
* Saint Lucia

Promotions

* Jamaica and Guatemala qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs

## Asia/Oceania Zone

### Group III

Dates: 15–18 September 2021

Location: Jordan Tennis Federation, Amman, Jordan (hard)

The first three nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs

Teams

Promotions/Relegations

* Hong Kong, Vietnam and Pacific Oceania qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
* Kuwait, Qatar and Sri Lanka are relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group IV

### Group IV

Dates: 18–23 October 2021

Location: Bahrain Tennis Federation Courts, Isa Town, Bahrain (hard)

The first three nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III

Teams

Inactive Teams

* Bangladesh
* Brunei
* Myanmar
* Singapore
* Tajikistan

Promotions

* Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are promoted to 2022 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III

## Europe Zone

### Group III

Dates: 16–19 June 2021

Location: Herodotou Tennis Academy, Larnaca, Cyprus (hard)

The first three nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs

The last two nations (excluding Liechtenstein) are relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group IV

Teams

Promotions/Relegations

* Cyprus, Ireland and Monaco qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs
* Iceland and Malta are relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group IV

### Group IV

Dates: 22–26 June 2021

Location: Tennis Club Jug, Skopje, North Macedonia (clay)

The first four nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group III

Teams

Promotions

* Armenia, Moldova, Montenegro and North Macedonia are promoted to the 2022 Davis Cup Europe Zone Group III.

## Africa Zone

### Group III

Dates: 11–14 August 2021

Location: Smash Academy, Cairo, Egypt (clay)

The first two nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs

Teams

Promotions/Relegations

* Egypt and Benin qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup World Group II play-offs.
* Rwanda and Ghana were relegated to 2022 Davis Cup Africa Zone Group IV.

### Group IV

Dates: 21–26 June 2021

Location: Complexe Sportif La Concorde, Brazzaville, Congo (hard)

The first two nations qualify for the 2022 Davis Cup Africa Zone Group III

Teams

Inactive Teams

* Burkina Faso
* Djibouti
* Ethiopia
* Lesotho
* Libya
* Mali
* Mauritius
* Togo
* Zambia

Promotions

* Ivory Coast and Namibia are promoted to the 2022 Davis Cup Africa Zone Group III.
