The Davis Cup was first established 125 years ago when members of the Harvard University Tennis Team explored the possibility of challenging their neighbours across the pond.
Once approved by the United States Lawn Tennis Association [LTA] and the British LTA, the match was scheduled to take place at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1900.
The American team named Dwight Davis, Holcombe Ward and Malcolm Whitman in their squad, while the British team included Ernest Black, Arthur Gore and Herbert Roper Barrett.
The tournament, which has been a mainstay in the tennis calendar for 125 years, was recognised as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge in 1900, rather than the Davis Cup.
The USA won the first-ever Davis Cup
Dwight Davis began proceedings in Boston with victory against Ernest Black, defeating the Brit 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Malcolm Whitman extended the US’s lead by defeating Arthur Gore, a player who would go on to win three Wimbledon titles: in 1901, 1908 and 1909.
Whitman defeated the talented Brit 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, giving Davis and Holcombe Ward the perfect opportunity to secure the tie in the doubles rubber.
The pair duly obliged, beating Ernest Black and Herbert Roper Barrett 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
The US have gone on to become the most successful nation in Davis Cup history, winning the title on 32 occasions.
The nation last won the title in 2007 following the performances of Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan Brothers.
Great Britain, known then as the British Isles, first won the title in 1903, defeating the US 4-1 at Longwood Cricket Club.
The nation has won nine more titles since, the last being in 2015.
The Davis Cup’s namesake
Dwight Davis, a member of the Tennis Hall of Fame, is recognised as one of the co-founders of the Davis Cup, alongside Davis, Holcombe Ward, Malcolm Whitman, and Beals Wright.
Davis [pictured below, centre], who later pursued a career in politics, bought the first Davis Cup trophy before donating the silverware for the inaugural contest.
The competition was officially renamed as the Davis Cup in 1946 in commemoration of Dwight Davis’ death in 1945.
The United States defeated Mexico 5-0 to win the tournament that year – the nation’s 13th title.
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