2014 Davis Cup

The Davis Cup began in 1900 after Dwight F. Davis donated a trophy for a contest between teams from the United States and Great Britain.[1] Originally a competition for amateur men’s national teams, it developed into an annual international tournament; its early rounds consisted of four singles matches and one doubles match.[1]

Israel entered the 2014 campaign seeking to return to the 16-team World Group after an away defeat against France in 2013.[7] Argentina had won both previous Davis Cup meetings between the countries: 5–0 in 1958 and 3–0 in 1990, with both ties played in Buenos Aires.[7]

Tunisia was suspended from the 2014 competition after its tennis federation instructed its leading player, Malek Jaziri, not to play Israel’s Amir Weintraub at a 2013 tournament in Tashkent.[6] The International Tennis Federation ruled that the Tunisian federation had breached its constitution by interfering with international sporting practice.[6] ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti said the board intended to send a strong message that such action would not be tolerated.[6]

Israel defeated Slovenia 3–1 in Portorož in April in Europe/Africa Zone Group I, securing a place in the World Group playoffs.[3] Rain postponed the doubles match, and the teams were level at 1–1 when play resumed on Sunday.[3]

Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich, competing together for the first time in almost three months, defeated Blaž Rola and Grega Žemlja 7–6 (7), 4–6, 7–6 (5), 6–3 in a doubles match lasting three hours and 46 minutes.[3] Dudi Sela, who had lost to Rola on Friday, then beat Žemlja 6–2, 6–7 (5), 6–0, 6–2 to clinch the tie.[3] It was Sela’s first Davis Cup victory in two years.[3] Afterward, he explained his approach: “I felt he wasn’t moving well on the court and I felt confident and I was more aggressive.”[8]

In April, Israel was drawn against Argentina for a playoff scheduled for September 12–14, initially planned as Israel’s first home tie against Argentina.[7] The announced Israeli team under captain Eyal Ran comprised Sela, Weintraub, Ram, and Erlich.[7] Argentina was expected to be without Juan Martín del Potro and the retired David Nalbandian, but had four players ranked among the world’s top 100: Juan Mónaco, Federico Delbonis, Carlos Berlocq, and Leonardo Mayer.[7] Ram judged Argentina stronger “on paper,” while maintaining that Israel had a chance to advance.[7]

The ITF moved the playoff from Tel Aviv to the Sunrise Tennis Center in Florida, citing security concerns related to the military conflict.[5] It referred to its duty to protect players, officials, and spectators, and to uncertainty about Israel’s security situation at the time of the tie.[5] The Israeli Tennis Association appealed the decision.[5]

In Florida, Erlich and Ram gave Israel a 2–1 lead by defeating Delbonis and Horacio Zeballos 6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3.[4] With Israel leading 4–2 in the fifth set, Ram pulled a muscle in his left leg and subsequently struggled to serve in the final game; Erlich’s volleys helped the pair complete the victory.[4]

Argentina reversed the deficit in the final-day singles.[4] Mayer defeated Sela 6–2, 6–1, 6–4 to level the tie at 2–2, before Berlocq beat Israeli newcomer Bar Tzuf Botzer 6–2, 6–3, 6–0 in the deciding match.[4] Argentina won 3–2, ending Israel’s attempt to advance.[4]

The tournament final was held at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, where Switzerland faced host France.[2] Switzerland won 3–1 to secure its first Davis Cup championship, with Federer helping lead the team to the title.[1][2]

Hosting the Argentina tie in Florida left the Israeli Tennis Association with an estimated deficit of 550,000–600,000 shekels, as reported in an October 7, 2014 article listing.[9] Association chief executive Shlomo Glickstein rejected criticism of the hosting decision, arguing that another location would have produced a larger budget shortfall.[9]

The financial consequences of the relocation remained an issue in later reporting.[10] In 2017, the Israeli Tennis Association said compensation had been promised for moving the home tie to the United States during the security situation of summer 2014.[10]

Contemporary reporting used different labels for Israel’s status after the loss to Argentina. The Times of Israel said the team would be relegated to World Group II, while The Jerusalem Post described Israel as remaining in Europe/Africa Zone Group I for another year.[4][5] The available sources did not reconcile the terminology.

The Argentina tie marked the farewell Davis Cup appearance of Ram and Erlich as a partnership, which finished with a 19–5 record in the competition.[5] Ram had announced his retirement earlier in 2014, and the Florida appearance was intended as the final chapter of his playing career with the Israeli team.[5]

For Federer, helping Switzerland win its first Davis Cup title was a career highlight.[11] The victory followed an injury-riddled 2013 season and a 2014 season in which he reached one Grand Slam final, losing to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.[11]