View source for 1981 Davis Cup

{{Short description|1981 edition of the Davis Cup}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Davis Cup season
<!-- Details -->
| name          = 1981 Davis Cup
| image         = 
| image_caption = 
| image_alt     =
| image_size    = 
| duration      = 6 March – 13 December 1981
| edition       = 70th
| teams         = 51<!-- Not include two teams withdrew before their first match -->
| categories    = 
<!-- Champions -->
| winning nation= {{davis|USA}}
| previous      = [[1980 Davis Cup|1980]]
| next          = [[1982 Davis Cup|1982]]
}}

The '''1981 Davis Cup''' (also known as the '''1981 Davis Cup by [[NEC]]''' for sponsorship purposes) was the 70th edition of the [[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 Davis Cup team|United States]] defeated [[Argentina Davis Cup team|Argentina]] in the final, held at the [[Heritage Bank Center|Riverfront Coliseum]] in [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]], [[United States]] on 11–13 December, to win their 27th title overall.<ref name=Collins>{{cite book|author=Bud Collins|title=The Bud Collins History of Tennis|year=2010|publisher=New Chapter Press|location=[New York]|isbn=978-0942257700|pages=495–496, 499|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref name="WG Final" />

==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.<ref name="ITF">{{cite web |title=ITF Events - Davis Cup |url=https://www.itftennis.com/about/itf-events/davis-cup.aspx |website=itftennis.com |publisher=[[International Tennis Federation]] |access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112195458/https://www.itftennis.com/about/itf-events/davis-cup.aspx |archive-date=12 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DC">{{cite web |title=Davis Cup History |url=https://www.daviscup.com/en/organisation/davis-cup-history.aspx |website=daviscup.com |access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112195331/https://www.daviscup.com/en/organisation/davis-cup-history.aspx |archive-date=12 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The 16 qualifying teams for the first World Group were: from the 1980 Americas Zone, the North & Central America Zone finalists the [[United States Davis Cup team|United States]] and [[Mexico Davis Cup team|Mexico]], and the South America Zone finalists [[Argentina Davis Cup team|Argentina]] and [[Brazil Davis Cup team|Brazil]]; the 1980 Eastern Zone semifinalists [[Australia Davis Cup team|Australia]], [[Japan Davis Cup team|Japan]], [[New Zealand Davis Cup team|New Zealand]] and [[South Korea Davis Cup team|South Korea]]; and the semifinalists from the two Europe Zones [[Czechoslovakia Davis Cup team|Czechoslovakia]], [[Great Britain Davis Cup team|Great Britain]], [[France Davis Cup team|France]], [[Italy Davis Cup team|Italy]], [[Romania Davis Cup team|Romania]], [[Sweden Davis Cup team|Sweden]], [[Switzerland Davis Cup team|Switzerland]] and [[Germany Davis Cup team|West Germany]].

This year also marked the first year of [[Sponsor (commercial)|commercial sponsorship]], when Japanese electronics company [[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.<ref name="ITF" /><ref name="DC" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Collett |first1=Mike |title=The new-look 1981 Davis Cup tennis competition gets under... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/03/02/The-new-look-1981-Davis-Cup-tennis-competition-gets-under/2372352357200/ |access-date=12 November 2019 |agency=[[United Press International]] |date=2 March 1981 |location=London}}</ref>

==World Group==
{{main|1981 Davis Cup World Group}}

{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|-
!colspan=4| Participating teams
|-
!width=25%|{{davis-big|ARG}}
!width=25%|{{davis-big|AUS}}
!width=25%|{{davis-big|BRA|1968}}
!width=25%|{{davis-big|TCH}}
|-
!{{davis-big|FRA}}
!{{davis-big|GBR}}
!{{davis-big|ITA}}
!{{davis-big|JPN|1947}}
|-
!{{davis-big|MEX}}
!{{davis-big|NZL}}
!{{davis-big|ROU|1965}}
!{{davis-big|KOR|1949}}
|-
!{{davis-big|SWE}}
!{{davis-big|SUI}}
!{{davis-big|USA}}
!{{davis-big|FRG}}
|}

===Draw===
{{DCWorld
| RD1-date=6–8 March
| RD2-date=9–12 July
| RD3-date=2–4 October
| RD4-date=11–13 December

| RD1T1-loc=[[Munich]], [[West Germany]] (indoor carpet)
| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1={{davis|FRG}} | RD1-score1=2
| RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2={{davis|ARG}} | RD1-score2=3

| RD1T2-loc=[[Timișoara]], [[Romania]] (indoor hard)
| RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3={{davis|ROU|1965}} | RD1-score3=3
| RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4={{davis|BRA|1968}} | RD1-score4=2

| RD1T3-loc=[[Brighton]], [[United Kingdom]] (indoor carpet)
| RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5={{davis|GBR}} | RD1-score5=3
| RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6={{davis|ITA}} | RD1-score6=2

| RD1T4-loc=[[Seoul]], [[South Korea]] (clay)
| RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7={{davis|KOR|1949}} | RD1-score7=0
| RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8={{davis|NZL}} | RD1-score8=5

| RD1T5-loc=[[Yokohama]], [[Japan]] (indoor carpet)
| RD1-seed9= | RD1-team9={{davis|JPN|1947}} | RD1-score9=0
| RD1-seed10= | RD1-team10={{davis|SWE}} | RD1-score10=5

| RD1T6-loc=[[Lyon]], [[France]] (indoor carpet)
| RD1-seed11= | RD1-team11={{davis|FRA}} | RD1-score11=2
| RD1-seed12= | RD1-team12={{davis|AUS}} | RD1-score12=3

| RD1T7-loc=[[Zürich]], [[Switzerland]] (indoor hard)
| RD1-seed13= | RD1-team13={{davis|SUI}} | RD1-score13=2
| RD1-seed14= | RD1-team14={{davis|TCH}} | RD1-score14=3

| RD1T8-loc=[[Carlsbad, California|Carlsbad, CA]], [[United States]] (hard)
| RD1-seed15= | RD1-team15={{davis|USA}} | RD1-score15=3
| RD1-seed16= | RD1-team16={{davis|MEX}} | RD1-score16=2

| RD2T1-loc=[[Timișoara]], [[Romania]] (hard)
| RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1={{davis|ARG}} | RD2-score1=3
| RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2={{davis|ROU|1965}} | RD2-score2=2

| RD2T2-loc=[[Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]] (carpet)
| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3={{davis|GBR}} | RD2-score3=4
| RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4={{davis|NZL}} | RD2-score4=1

| RD2T3-loc=[[Båstad]], [[Sweden]] (clay)
| RD2-seed5= | RD2-team5={{davis|SWE}} | RD2-score5=1
| RD2-seed6= | RD2-team6={{davis|AUS}} | RD2-score6=3

| RD2T4-loc=[[New York City]], [[United States]] (hard)
| RD2-seed7= | RD2-team7={{davis|TCH}} | RD2-score7=1
| RD2-seed8= | RD2-team8={{davis|USA}} | RD2-score8=4

| RD3T1-loc=[[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] (clay)
| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1={{davis|ARG}} | RD3-score1=5
| RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2={{davis|GBR}} | RD3-score2=0

| RD3T2-loc=[[Portland, Oregon|Portland, OR]], [[United States]] (indoor carpet)
| RD3-seed3= | RD3-team3={{davis|AUS}} | RD3-score3=0
| RD3-seed4= | RD3-team4={{davis|USA}} | RD3-score4=5

| RD4T1-loc=[[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, OH]], [[United States]] (indoor carpet)
| RD4-seed1= | RD4-team1={{davis|ARG}} | RD4-score1=1
| RD4-seed2= | RD4-team2={{davis|USA}} | RD4-score2=3
}}

===Final===
'''United States vs. Argentina'''
{{DavisCupbox
|team1=United States
|team2=Argentina
|venue=[[Heritage Bank Center|Riverfront Coliseum]], [[Cincinnati]], [[United States]]<ref name="WG Final">{{cite news|url=https://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie.aspx?id=M-DC-1981-WG-M-USA-ARG-01|title=United States v Argentina|publisher=daviscup.com}}</ref>
|date=11–13 December 1981
|surface=Carpet (indoors)
|score1=3
|score2=1
|R1={{ TennisMatch |T1P1=[[John McEnroe]] |6 |6 |6 | | |T2P1=[[Guillermo Vilas]] |3 |2 |2 | | }}
|R2={{ TennisMatch |T1P1=[[Roscoe Tanner]] |5 |3 |6 | | |T2P1=[[José Luis Clerc]] |7 |6 |8 | | }}
|R3={{ TennisMatch |T1P1=[[Peter Fleming (tennis)|Peter Fleming]] |T1P2=[[John McEnroe]] |6 |4 |6 |4 |11 |T2P1=[[José Luis Clerc]] |T2P2=[[Guillermo Vilas]] |3 |6 |4 |6 |9 }} 
|R4={{ TennisMatch |T1P1=[[John McEnroe]] |7 |5 |6 |3 |6 |T2P1=[[José Luis Clerc]] |5 |7 |3 |6 |3 }}
|R5={{ TennisMatch |T1P1=[[Roscoe Tanner]] |11 | | | | |T2P1=[[Guillermo Vilas]] |10 | | | | |nc=1}} 
}}

===Relegation play-offs===
{{further|1981 Davis Cup World Group#Relegation play-offs}}

''Date: 2–4 October''

{| class="wikitable" style="border:1px solid #aaa;"
|-
! Home team !! Score !! Visiting team !! Location !! Surface
|-
| {{davis|BRA|1968}} || style="text-align:center;"|[[1981 Davis Cup World Group#Brazil vs. West Germany|2–3]] || '''{{davis|FRG}}''' || [[São Paulo]] || Clay
|-
| '''{{davis|ITA}}''' || style="text-align:center;"|[[1981 Davis Cup World Group#Italy vs. South Korea|4–1]] || {{davis|KOR|1949}} || [[Sanremo]] || Clay
|-
| '''{{davis|FRA}}''' || style="text-align:center;"|[[1981 Davis Cup World Group#France vs. Japan|4–1]] || {{davis|JPN|1947}} || [[Paris]] || Clay
|-
| '''{{davis|MEX}}''' || style="text-align:center;"|[[1981 Davis Cup World Group#Mexico vs. Switzerland|3–2]] || {{davis|SUI}} || [[Tijuana]] || Clay
|}

* {{davis|FRA}}, {{davis|ITA}}, {{davis|MEX}} and {{davis|FRG}} remain in the World Group in [[1982 Davis Cup|1982]].
* {{davis|BRA|1968}}, {{davis|JPN|1947}}, {{davis|KOR|1949}} and {{davis|SUI}} are relegated to Zonal competition in [[1982 Davis Cup|1982]].

==Americas Zone==
{{main|1981 Davis Cup Americas Zone}}

{{8TeamBracket-info
| RD1-date=9–11 January
| RD2-date=13–15 February
| RD3-date=6–8 March
| RD1-name=Sub-Zonal Semifinals
| RD2-name=Sub-Zonal Finals
| RD3-name=Inter-Zonal Final

| RD1T1-loc=[[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]] (clay)
| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1={{davis|COL}} | RD1-score1=3
| RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2={{davis|CAN}} | RD1-score2=2

| RD1T2-loc=[[Caracas]], [[Venezuela]] (hard)
| RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3={{davis|VEN|1930}} | RD1-score3=4
| RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4={{davis|Caribbean/West Indies}} | RD1-score4=1

| RD1T3-loc=[[Lima]], [[Peru]] (clay)
| RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5={{davis|PER}} | RD1-score5=1
| RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6={{davis|CHI}} | RD1-score6=4

| RD1T4-loc=[[Guayaquil]], [[Ecuador]] (clay)
| RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7={{davis|ECU|1900}} | RD1-score7=2
| RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8={{davis|URU}} | RD1-score8=3

| RD2T1-loc=[[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]] (clay)
| RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1={{davis|COL}} | RD2-score1=5
| RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2={{davis|VEN|1930}} | RD2-score2=0

| RD2T2-loc=[[Santiago]], [[Chile]] (clay)
| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3={{davis|CHI}} | RD2-score3=5
| RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4={{davis|URU}} | RD2-score4=0

| RD3T1-loc=[[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]] (indoor clay)
| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1={{davis|COL}} | RD3-score1=2
| RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2={{davis|CHI}} | RD3-score2=3
}}

* {{davis|CHI}} are promoted to the World Group in [[1982 Davis Cup|1982]].

==Eastern Zone==
{{main|1981 Davis Cup Eastern Zone}}

{{8TeamBracket-info
| RD1-date=9–11 January
| RD2-date=13–15 February
| RD3-date=6–8 March

| RD1T1-loc= 
| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1={{davis|IND}} | RD1-score1=
| RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1T2-loc=[[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] (hard)
| RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3={{davis|MAS}} | RD1-score3=0
| RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4={{davis|THA}} | RD1-score4=5

| RD1T3-loc=[[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]] (indoor hard)
| RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5={{davis|INA}} | RD1-score5=4
| RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6={{davis|TPE}} | RD1-score6=1

| RD1T4-loc=
| RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7=
| RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8={{davis|PAK}} | RD1-score8=

| RD2T1-loc=[[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] (hard)
| RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1={{davis|IND}} | RD2-score1=5
| RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2={{davis|THA}} | RD2-score2=0

| RD2T2-loc=[[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]] (clay)
| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3={{davis|INA}} | RD2-score3=3
| RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4={{davis|PAK}} | RD2-score4=0

| RD3T1-loc=[[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]] (clay)
| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1={{davis|IND}} | RD3-score1=3
| RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2={{davis|INA}} | RD3-score2=2
}}

* {{davis|IND}} are promoted to the World Group in [[1982 Davis Cup|1982]].

==Europe Zone==
{{main|1981 Davis Cup Europe Zone}}

===Zone A===
{{DCWorld
| RD1-date=8–10 May
| RD2-date=10–14 June
| RD3-date=9–11 July
| RD4-date=25–27 September

| RD1T1-loc=
| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1={{davis|ESP|1977}} | RD1-score1=
| RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1T2-loc=
| RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3={{davis|ZIM}} | RD1-score3=
| RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4={{davis|ALG}} | RD1-score4=w/o

| RD1T3-loc=
| RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5={{davis|POL}} | RD1-score5=
| RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6=bye | RD1-score6=

| RD1T4-loc=[[Monte Carlo]], [[Monaco]] (clay)
| RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7={{davis|MAR}} | RD1-score7=1
| RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8={{davis|MON}} | RD1-score8=3

| RD1T5-loc=
| RD1-seed9= | RD1-team9={{davis|HUN}} | RD1-score9=
| RD1-seed10= | RD1-team10=bye | RD1-score10=

| RD1T6-loc=[[Cairo]], [[Egypt]] (clay)
| RD1-seed11= | RD1-team11={{davis|EGY|1972}} | RD1-score11=5
| RD1-seed12= | RD1-team12={{davis|GRE}} | RD1-score12=0

| RD1T7-loc=
| RD1-seed13= | RD1-team13={{davis|YUG}} | RD1-score13=
| RD1-seed14= | RD1-team14=bye | RD1-score14=

| RD1T8-loc=
| RD1-seed15= | RD1-team15=bye | RD1-score15=
| RD1-seed16= | RD1-team16={{davis|ISR}} | RD1-score16=

| RD2T1-loc=[[Algiers]], [[Algeria]] (clay)
| RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1={{davis|ESP|1977}} | RD2-score1=5
| RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2={{davis|ALG}} | RD2-score2=0

| RD2T2-loc=[[Monte Carlo]], [[Monaco]] (clay)
| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3={{davis|POL}} | RD2-score3=2
| RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4={{davis|MON}} | RD2-score4=3

| RD2T3-loc=[[Cairo]], [[Egypt]] (clay)
| RD2-seed5= | RD2-team5={{davis|HUN}} | RD2-score5=4
| RD2-seed6= | RD2-team6={{davis|EGY|1972}} | RD2-score6=1

| RD2T4-loc=[[Skopje]], [[Yugoslavia]] (clay)
| RD2-seed7= | RD2-team7={{davis|YUG}} | RD2-score7=1
| RD2-seed8= | RD2-team8={{davis|ISR}} | RD2-score8=4

| RD3T1-loc=[[Lleida]], [[Spain]] (clay)
| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1={{davis|ESP|1977}} | RD3-score1=5
| RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2={{davis|MON}} | RD3-score2=0

| RD3T2-loc=[[Ramat HaSharon]], [[Israel]] (hard)
| RD3-seed3= | RD3-team3={{davis|HUN}} | RD3-score3=3
| RD3-seed4= | RD3-team4={{davis|ISR}} | RD3-score4=2

| RD4T1-loc=[[Avilés]], [[Spain]] (clay)
| RD4-seed1= | RD4-team1={{davis|ESP|1977}} | RD4-score1=3
| RD4-seed2= | RD4-team2={{davis|HUN}} | RD4-score2=2
}}

* {{davis|ESP|1977}} are promoted to the World Group in [[1982 Davis Cup|1982]].

===Zone B===
{{DCWorld
| RD1-date=8–10 May
| RD2-date=12–14 June
| RD3-date=9–11 July
| RD4-date=25–27 September

| RD1T1-loc=
| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1={{davis|AUT}} | RD1-score1=
| RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1T2-loc=[[Aarhus]], [[Denmark]] (clay)
| RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3={{davis|DEN}} | RD1-score3=5
| RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4={{davis|POR}} | RD1-score4=0

| RD1T3-loc=
| RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5={{davis|URS}} | RD1-score5=
| RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6=bye | RD1-score6=

| RD1T4-loc=
| RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7={{davis|BEL}} | RD1-score7=w/o
| RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8={{davis|TUR}} | RD1-score8=

| RD1T5-loc=
| RD1-seed9= | RD1-team9={{davis|FIN}} | RD1-score9=
| RD1-seed10= | RD1-team10=bye | RD1-score10=

| RD1T6-loc=[[Mondorf-les-Bains]], [[Luxembourg]] (clay)
| RD1-seed11= | RD1-team11={{davis|LUX}} | RD1-score11=0
| RD1-seed12= | RD1-team12={{davis|BUL|1971}} | RD1-score12=5

| RD1T7-loc=
| RD1-seed13= | RD1-team13={{davis|NED}} | RD1-score13=
| RD1-seed14= | RD1-team14=bye | RD1-score14=

| RD1T8-loc=[[Oslo]], [[Norway]] (clay)
| RD1-seed15= | RD1-team15={{davis|NOR}} | RD1-score15=2
| RD1-seed16= | RD1-team16={{davis|IRL}} | RD1-score16=3

| RD2T1-loc=[[Salzburg]], [[Austria]] (clay)
| RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1={{davis|AUT}} | RD2-score1=3
| RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2={{davis|DEN}} | RD2-score2=2

| RD2T2-loc=[[Jūrmala]], [[Soviet Union]] (clay)
| RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3={{davis|URS}} | RD2-score3=4
| RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4={{davis|BEL}} | RD2-score4=1

| RD2T3-loc=[[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] (clay)
| RD2-seed5= | RD2-team5={{davis|FIN}} | RD2-score5=3
| RD2-seed6= | RD2-team6={{davis|BUL|1971}} | RD2-score6=2

| RD2T4-loc=[[Eindhoven]], [[Netherlands]] (clay)
| RD2-seed7= | RD2-team7={{davis|NED}} | RD2-score7=4
| RD2-seed8= | RD2-team8={{davis|IRL}} | RD2-score8=1

| RD3T1-loc=[[Pörtschach am Wörthersee|Pörtschach]], [[Austria]] (clay)
| RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1={{davis|AUT}} | RD3-score1=0
| RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2={{davis|URS}} | RD3-score2=4

| RD3T2-loc=[[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] (clay)
| RD3-seed3= | RD3-team3={{davis|FIN}} | RD3-score3=0
| RD3-seed4= | RD3-team4={{davis|NED}} | RD3-score4=5

| RD4T1-loc=[[Jūrmala]], [[Soviet Union]] (clay)
| RD4-seed1= | RD4-team1={{davis|URS}} | RD4-score1=5
| RD4-seed2= | RD4-team2={{davis|NED}} | RD4-score2=0
}}

* {{davis|URS}} are promoted to the World Group in [[1982 Davis Cup|1982]].

==References==
;General
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/historic-format/world-group.aspx#/1981|title=World Group 1981|publisher=DavisCup.com|access-date=11 June 2020}}
;Specific
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.daviscup.com Davis Cup Official Website]

{{Davis Cup navbox}}
{{1981 in tennis}}
{{1981 Volvo Grand Prix}}

[[Category:1981 Davis Cup| ]]
[[Category:Davis Cups by year]]
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