# 1981 Davis Cup > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/1981_Davis_Cup > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/1981_Davis_Cup.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Davis_Cup > Source revision: 1315384171 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1981 edition of the Davis Cup 1981 Davis Cup Details Duration 6 March – 13 December 1981 Edition 70th Teams 51 Champion Winning nation United States ← 1980 1982 → The **1981 Davis Cup** (also known as the **1981 Davis Cup by [NEC](/source/NEC)** for sponsorship purposes) was the 70th edition of the [Davis Cup](/source/Davis_Cup), the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 53 teams would enter the competition, 16 in the World Group, 23 in the Europe Zone, 8 in the Americas Zone, and 6 in the Eastern Zone. The [United States](/source/United_States_Davis_Cup_team) defeated [Argentina](/source/Argentina_Davis_Cup_team) in the final, held at the [Riverfront Coliseum](/source/Heritage_Bank_Center) in [Cincinnati, Ohio](/source/Cincinnati), United States on 11–13 December, to win their 27th title overall.[1][2] ## Format changes The 1981 tournament marked the introduction of the 16-team World Group and a move to a tiered system including promotion and relegation. The original 16 teams to compete were chosen through the previous year's results, with teams that reached the Zonal semifinals chosen to compete in the inaugural bracket. Teams which lost in the World Group first round would now compete against each other in the World Group Relegation Play-off, with the four losers relegated to their respective Zonal competition the following year. The four winners of the Zonal competitions would now earn promotion into the following year's World Group to replace the relegated teams.[3][4] The 16 qualifying teams for the first World Group were: from the 1980 Americas Zone, the North & Central America Zone finalists the [United States](/source/United_States_Davis_Cup_team) and [Mexico](/source/Mexico_Davis_Cup_team), and the South America Zone finalists [Argentina](/source/Argentina_Davis_Cup_team) and [Brazil](/source/Brazil_Davis_Cup_team); the 1980 Eastern Zone semifinalists [Australia](/source/Australia_Davis_Cup_team), [Japan](/source/Japan_Davis_Cup_team), [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand_Davis_Cup_team) and [South Korea](/source/South_Korea_Davis_Cup_team); and the semifinalists from the two Europe Zones [Czechoslovakia](/source/Czechoslovakia_Davis_Cup_team), [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain_Davis_Cup_team), [France](/source/France_Davis_Cup_team), [Italy](/source/Italy_Davis_Cup_team), [Romania](/source/Romania_Davis_Cup_team), [Sweden](/source/Sweden_Davis_Cup_team), [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland_Davis_Cup_team) and [West Germany](/source/Germany_Davis_Cup_team). This year also marked the first year of [commercial sponsorship](/source/Sponsor_(commercial)), when Japanese electronics company [NEC](/source/NEC) became the tournament's first Title Sponsor, a partnership that lasted 21 years in total. NEC's partnership also enabled prize money to be given for the first time, with the World Group team competing for a total of US$1 million.[3][4][5] ## World Group Main article: [1981 Davis Cup World Group](/source/1981_Davis_Cup_World_Group) Participating teams Argentina Australia Brazil Czechoslovakia France Great Britain Italy Japan Mexico New Zealand Romania South Korea Sweden Switzerland United States West Germany ### Draw First round 6–8 March Quarterfinals 9–12 July Semifinals 2–4 October Final 11–13 December Munich, West Germany (indoor carpet) West Germany 2 Timișoara, Romania (hard) Argentina 3 Argentina 3 Timișoara, Romania (indoor hard) Romania 2 Romania 3 Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) Brazil 2 Argentina 5 Brighton, United Kingdom (indoor carpet) Great Britain 0 Great Britain 3 Christchurch, New Zealand (carpet) Italy 2 Great Britain 4 Seoul, South Korea (clay) New Zealand 1 South Korea 0 Cincinnati, OH, United States (indoor carpet) New Zealand 5 Argentina 1 Yokohama, Japan (indoor carpet) United States 3 Japan 0 Båstad, Sweden (clay) Sweden 5 Sweden 1 Lyon, France (indoor carpet) Australia 3 France 2 Portland, OR, United States (indoor carpet) Australia 3 Australia 0 Zürich, Switzerland (indoor hard) United States 5 Switzerland 2 New York City, United States (hard) Czechoslovakia 3 Czechoslovakia 1 Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) United States 4 United States 3 Mexico 2 ### Final **United States vs. Argentina** United States 3 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, United States[2] 11–13 December 1981 Carpet (indoors) Argentina 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 John McEnroe Guillermo Vilas 6 3 6 2 6 2 2 Roscoe Tanner José Luis Clerc 5 7 3 6 6 8 3 Peter Fleming / John McEnroe José Luis Clerc / Guillermo Vilas 6 3 4 6 6 4 4 6 11 9 4 John McEnroe José Luis Clerc 7 5 5 7 6 3 3 6 6 3 5 Roscoe Tanner Guillermo Vilas 11 10 not completed ### Relegation play-offs Further information: [1981 Davis Cup World Group § Relegation play-offs](/source/1981_Davis_Cup_World_Group#Relegation_play-offs) *Date: 2–4 October* Home team Score Visiting team Location Surface Brazil 2–3 West Germany São Paulo Clay Italy 4–1 South Korea Sanremo Clay France 4–1 Japan Paris Clay Mexico 3–2 Switzerland Tijuana Clay - [France](/source/France_Davis_Cup_team), [Italy](/source/Italy_Davis_Cup_team), [Mexico](/source/Mexico_Davis_Cup_team) and [West Germany](/source/Germany_Davis_Cup_team) remain in the World Group in [1982](/source/1982_Davis_Cup). - [Brazil](/source/Brazil_Davis_Cup_team), [Japan](/source/Japan_Davis_Cup_team), [South Korea](/source/South_Korea_Davis_Cup_team) and [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland_Davis_Cup_team) are relegated to Zonal competition in [1982](/source/1982_Davis_Cup). ## Americas Zone Main article: [1981 Davis Cup Americas Zone](/source/1981_Davis_Cup_Americas_Zone) Sub-Zonal Semifinals 9–11 January Sub-Zonal Finals 13–15 February Inter-Zonal Final 6–8 March Bogotá, Colombia (clay) Colombia 3 Bogotá, Colombia (clay) Canada 2 Colombia 5 Caracas, Venezuela (hard) Venezuela 0 Venezuela 4 Bogotá, Colombia (indoor clay) Caribbean/West Indies 1 Colombia 2 Lima, Peru (clay) Chile 3 Peru 1 Santiago, Chile (clay) Chile 4 Chile 5 Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) Uruguay 0 Ecuador 2 Uruguay 3 - [Chile](/source/Chile_Davis_Cup_team) are promoted to the World Group in [1982](/source/1982_Davis_Cup). ## Eastern Zone Main article: [1981 Davis Cup Eastern Zone](/source/1981_Davis_Cup_Eastern_Zone) Quarterfinals 9–11 January Semifinals 13–15 February Final 6–8 March India Bangkok, Thailand (hard) bye India 5 Bangkok, Thailand (hard) Thailand 0 Malaysia 0 Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) Thailand 5 India 3 Taipei, Taiwan (indoor hard) Indonesia 2 Indonesia 4 Jakarta, Indonesia (clay) Chinese Taipei 1 Indonesia 3 Pakistan 0 bye Pakistan - [India](/source/India_Davis_Cup_team) are promoted to the World Group in [1982](/source/1982_Davis_Cup). ## Europe Zone Main article: [1981 Davis Cup Europe Zone](/source/1981_Davis_Cup_Europe_Zone) ### Zone A First round 8–10 May Quarterfinals 10–14 June Semifinals 9–11 July Final 25–27 September Spain Algiers, Algeria (clay) bye Spain 5 Algeria 0 Zimbabwe Lleida, Spain (clay) Algeria w/o Spain 5 Monaco 0 Poland Monte Carlo, Monaco (clay) bye Poland 2 Monte Carlo, Monaco (clay) Monaco 3 Morocco 1 Avilés, Spain (clay) Monaco 3 Spain 3 Hungary 2 Hungary Cairo, Egypt (clay) bye Hungary 4 Cairo, Egypt (clay) Egypt 1 Egypt 5 Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) Greece 0 Hungary 3 Israel 2 Yugoslavia Skopje, Yugoslavia (clay) bye Yugoslavia 1 Israel 4 bye Israel - [Spain](/source/Spain_Davis_Cup_team) are promoted to the World Group in [1982](/source/1982_Davis_Cup). ### Zone B First round 8–10 May Quarterfinals 12–14 June Semifinals 9–11 July Final 25–27 September Austria Salzburg, Austria (clay) bye Austria 3 Aarhus, Denmark (clay) Denmark 2 Denmark 5 Pörtschach, Austria (clay) Portugal 0 Austria 0 Soviet Union 4 Soviet Union Jūrmala, Soviet Union (clay) bye Soviet Union 4 Belgium 1 Belgium w/o Jūrmala, Soviet Union (clay) Turkey Soviet Union 5 Netherlands 0 Finland Helsinki, Finland (clay) bye Finland 3 Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg (clay) Bulgaria 2 Luxembourg 0 Helsinki, Finland (clay) Bulgaria 5 Finland 0 Netherlands 5 Netherlands Eindhoven, Netherlands (clay) bye Netherlands 4 Oslo, Norway (clay) Ireland 1 Norway 2 Ireland 3 - [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union_Davis_Cup_team) are promoted to the World Group in [1982](/source/1982_Davis_Cup). ## References **General** - ["World Group 1981"](https://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/historic-format/world-group.aspx#/1981). DavisCup.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020. **Specific** 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Collins_1-0)** Bud Collins (2010). *The Bud Collins History of Tennis* (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 495–496, 499. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0942257700](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0942257700). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WG_Final_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WG_Final_2-1) ["United States v Argentina"](https://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie.aspx?id=M-DC-1981-WG-M-USA-ARG-01). daviscup.com. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ITF_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ITF_3-1) ["ITF Events - Davis Cup"](https://www.itftennis.com/about/itf-events/davis-cup.aspx). *itftennis.com*. [International Tennis Federation](/source/International_Tennis_Federation). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191112195458/https://www.itftennis.com/about/itf-events/davis-cup.aspx) from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DC_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DC_4-1) ["Davis Cup History"](https://www.daviscup.com/en/organisation/davis-cup-history.aspx). *daviscup.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20191112195331/https://www.daviscup.com/en/organisation/davis-cup-history.aspx) from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Collett, Mike (March 2, 1981). ["The new-look 1981 Davis Cup tennis competition gets under..."](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/03/02/The-new-look-1981-Davis-Cup-tennis-competition-gets-under/2372352357200/) London. [United Press International](/source/United_Press_International). Retrieved November 12, 2019. ## External links - [Davis Cup Official Website](http://www.daviscup.com) v t e Davis Cup Current champions (2025): Italy Editions 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020–21 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 World Groups / Finals 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020–21 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 World Groups play-offs 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Qualifying rounds 2019 2020–21 2022 2023 2024 2025 (1R, 2R) 2026 (1R, 2R) 2025 Davis Cup Finals teams Argentina Austria Belgium Czech Republic France Germany Italy Spain Former World Group / Finals teams Australia Belarus Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Croatia Cuba Czechoslovakia Denmark Ecuador Finland Great Britain Hungary India Indonesia Ireland Israel Japan Kazakhstan Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Paraguay Peru Poland Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia South Korea South Africa Sweden Switzerland United States Yugoslavia Zimbabwe Players American Argentine Australian Austrian Belarusian Belgian Brazilian British Canadian Chilean Croatian Cuban Czech Czechoslovak Danish Dutch Ecuadorian Finnish French German Hungarian Indian Indonesian Irish Israeli Italian Japanese Kazakhstani Korean Kosovar Mexican Montenegrin Moroccan New Zealand Peruvian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak South African Soviet Spanish Swedish Swiss Yugoslav Zimbabwean List of champions Winning players v t e « 1980 1981 in tennis 1982 » Grand Slam French Open Wimbledon Championships US Open Australian Open Tours Men Volvo Grand Prix Volvo Masters Women WTA Tour Avon Championships Toyota Series Championships National teams Men Davis Cup (World Group) World Team Cup Women Federation Cup Wightman Cup v t e 1981 Grand Prix Tour « 1980 1982 » Grand Slam tournaments Australian Open French Open Wimbledon US Open Grand Prix circuit Super Series Monterrey WCT Philadelphia WCT Richmond WCT La Quinta Memphis Brussels Indoor WCT Rotterdam WCT Milan WCT Frankfurt WCT Houston WCT Monte Carlo Hamburg Rome Boston Washington North Conway Indianapolis Montreal Cincinnati San Francisco Barcelona Sydney Indoor Tokyo Indoor Stockholm Wembley Buenos Aires Johannesburg Outdoor Regular Series Auckland Adelaide San Juan Vina del Mar Mar del Plata Mexico City Denver Salisbury WCT Tampa Cairo Nancy Napa Stuttgart Indoor Linz Johannesburg Indoor Nice Los Angeles Bournemouth Las Vegas Dallas WCT Forest Hills WCT Florence Munich Brussels Outdoor London/Queen's Bristol Venice Gstaad Newport Kitzbuhel Stuttgart Outdoor Båstad Hilversum South Orange Columbus Stowe Cleveland Palermo Geneva Bordeaux Madrid Manila Maui Brisbane Outdoor Tel Aviv Basel Tokyo Outdoor Melbourne Indoor Vienna Indoor Paris Cologne Hong Kong Quito Taipei Bangkok Bologna Santiago Manila Sydney Outdoor Sofia Team events Davis Cup (World Group) World Team Cup Masters Doubles WCT, London Pepsi Grand Slam, Boca Raton Sawgrass Doubles Volvo Masters, New York --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [1981 Davis Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Davis_Cup) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Davis_Cup?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.