 |
2006 Davis Cup
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduction
The Davis Cup is the most important international tennis team event for men. It is the largest annual international tennis competition. The Davis Cup is organized by the International Tennis Federation. It is contested in a knock-out format. This tournament was introduced in 1900. It was played between United States and Great Britain as a challenge. The tournament was initially recognized by the name ‘the International Lawn Tennis Challenge’. The name was changed as ‘the Davis Cup’ in 1944 after the death of Dwight Davis who designed the format of the tournament.
|
|
| |
The 2006 Davis Cup was the 95th edition of this prestigious tournament. There were total 16 teams to participate in the World Group. Other 125 nations played in regional zones. They were Americas Zone, Asia/Oceania Zone and Europe/Africa Zone. The World Group consisted of a four-round knockout tournament. Every regional zone was divided into four groups. Group I and Group II played knockout tournaments. Group III and IV played round-robin tournaments with promotion and relegation. Russia defeated Argentina and won the final of the 2006 Davis Cup.
Participation and Performance of countries at 2006 Davis Cup
Total 125 participating nations at the 2006 Davis Cup were divided into 3 regional zones. The 1st round matches were played from 10th to 12th February.
Americas Zone
Americas Zone consisted of 4 groups. Group I included Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Canada, Mexico and Ecuador. Brazil defeated Ecuador by 4-0 in the finals. Mexico defeated Canada by 4-0. Brazil and Mexico promoted to the World Group Play-offs. Ecuador was relegated to the Group II in 2007.
Group II included Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, Jamaica and Netherlands Antilles. Colombia won all five matches against Dominican Republic. Colombia advanced to the Group I in 2007. Bolivia and Guatemala showed poor performance. Hence they were demoted to Group III in 2007.
The matches in the Group III were played at Maya Country Club, Santa Tecla, El Salvador. There were total 8 countries to participate in the tournament. They were divided into 2 groups. Group A included Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago. Group B included Cuba, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Haiti. The matches were played from 14th to 18th June. El Salvador and Cuba advanced to the Group II in 2007 due to their magnificent performance. Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago were relegated to Group IV in 2007.
Group IV included Barbados, Panama, Saint Lucia, US Virgin Islands and Bermuda. Barbados and Panama won 3 sets of matches each. As a result, they got place in Group III in 2007.
Asia/Oceania Zone
The teams in Asia/Oceania Zone were divided into 4 groups. Group I included China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Uzbekistan and Thailand. South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei by 3-2 in the finals. Thailand defeated Japan by 3-2. As a result, South Korea and Thailand were promoted to World Group Play-off. Pakistan was relegated to Group II in 2007 due to their disappointing performance.
Group II included countries such as Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Pacific Oceania, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Lebanon and New Zealand. Kazakhstan’s players showed dominant performance and won the finals by 3-2 against Indonesia.
There were total 8 teams to compete in the Group III. They were divided into 2 groups. Group A included Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Singapore. Group B included Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Bangladesh. The matches were played at Manila Polo Club, Makati City, Philippines. They were held from 19th to 23rd July. Philippines and Iran were promoted to Group II in 2007 due to their satisfactory performance. Bahrain and Bangladesh demoted to Group IV. The matches in the Group IV were played at Al Hussein Tennis Club, Amman, Jordan from 5th to 9th April. Total 9 teams competed in the Group IV. They were divided into 2 groups. Oman, Iraq, Myanmar and Qatar were placed in Group A. Group B included United Arab Emirates, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Jordan. Oman and United Arab Emirates showed remarkable performance and advanced to the Group III in 2007.
Europe/Africa Zone
The participating teams in Europe/Africa Zone competed in 4 different groups. Belgium, Great Britain, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Israel, Luxembourg, Morocco, Ukraine and Serbia and Montenegro were placed in Group I. The matches in the 2nd round were played from 7th to 9th April. Players from Czech Republic put excellent performance. They won all five matches against Morocco. Italy defeated Luxembourg in all the matches. Serbia and Montenegro defeated Great Britain by 3-2. Belgium defeated Ukraine in 4 matches. Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium, Serbia and Montenegro were included in the World Group Play-off in 2007.
The countries included in Group II were Bulgaria, Algeria, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Georgia, Finland, Hungary, Macedonia, Ireland, Norway, Zimbabwe, Poland, South Africa and Slovenia. The matches in the 3rd round were played from 22nd to 24th September. Macedonia defeated Finland by 3-2. Georgia defeated Hungary by 3-2. Macedonia and Georgia advanced to Group I in 2007. Zimbabwe, Ireland, South Africa and Egypt could not show satisfactory performance. As a result, they were relegated to Group III of Europe/Africa Zone in 2007.
The matches in Group III of Europe/Africa Zone were played in two venues. The countries that played the matches in Venue 1 were Andorra, Armenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Moldova, Monaco, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following countries played the matches at Venue 2: Botswana, Cote D’lvoire, Denmark, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tunisia. The matches in Venue 1 were played at Teniski Klub Mladost, Bosnia and Herzegovina from 19th to 23rd July. The matches in Venue 2 were played at BTA Centre, Botswana from 26th to 30th July. Monaco, Estonia, Denmark and Nigeria advanced to Group II in 2007. Armenia, Andorra, Botswana and Rwanda were demoted to Group IV.
The matches in Group IV were played at Marsa Sports Club, Malta from 19th to 23rd July. There were total 8 teams to participate in Group IV. Group A included Uganda, Iceland, Malta and San Marino. Group B included Mauritius, Madagascar, Azerbaijan and Senegal. Players from Mauritius, Madagascar, Iceland and San Marino showed admirable performance. As a result, they were promoted to Group III in 2007.
|
World Group
There were 16 teams included in the top group. That was the World Group. The participating countries were Sweden, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Chile, Croatia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Spain, Slovakia, Switzerland and United States. The matches in the World Group were played in four rounds. They were 1st round, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. The losers in the first round played the matches with Zonal Group I winners in World Group Play-offs. The finals took place from 1st to 3rd December at Moscow, Russia. The final matches were played between Russia and Argentina. Russian players showed extra-ordinary performance. They won 3 matches against Argentina. Argentina could win 2 matches. Russia won the 2006 Davis Cup.
Thus, Russia proved their dominance in 2006 Davis Cup.
|
|
|
|
|
|
