The Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is structured with a 16 nation World Group, contested over four weekends during the year. The remaining countries are then divided into three regional Zones depending on their location. Davis Cup is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. Davis Cup is described by the organizers as the "World Cup of Tennis", and the winners are referred to as the World Champion team.

History of Davis Cup
Davis Cup began in 1990. The first game was played between USA and Great Britain. It was held at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston and the Americans astonished their opponents by racing into an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Davis Cup has therefore an interesting history and the historical records affirm that American Dwight F. Davis donated the trophy in 1900 and marked the beginning of a new era in the world of Tennis. The main organizer of the Davis Cup was then the International Tennis Federation and is still the organizer.

The tournament was initially titled the International Lawn Tennis Challenge although it soon became known as the Davis Cup, after Dwight Davis` trophy. The Davis Cup competition was initially played as a challenge cup. All teams competed against one another for the right to face the previous year`s champion in the final round. Only India, Romania and Argentina have contested more than one Final without being crowned champion. In the 1974 Eastern Zone Final, India and Australia established a record for the most number of games in a tie, 327.

Format of Davis Cup
Davis Cup ties are played over three days, Friday to Sunday. There are five matches, known as rubbers, the winner being the first to win three rubbers. The competition begins with two single rubbers on the first day (Friday), a double rubber on the second day (Saturday) and finally two singles rubbers on the third day (Sunday). All rubbers are the best out of five sets and the home nation chooses the venue and court surface. The tie is hosted by one of the competing nations. The host nation is decided depending on where the two teams played their most recent tie against each other, as long as the tie took place after 1970. Any ties before this date do not count towards the choice of ground. If a nation had home advantage last time then it will be away next time, and vice versa. If the nations have never previously met, last met before 1970, or if they last faced each other at a neutral venue, then the choice of ground is decided by lot.

Zone Groups in Davis Cup
The Zone Groups are divided into three regions: Americas, Asia/ Oceania and Europe/ Africa. Within each region there are either three or four divisions, Group I being the highest and Group IV being the lowest. The eight nations that win their World Group first round ties progress to play in the quarterfinals, semi-finals and subsequent final, at which the winning team is crowned champion.

Davis Cup to India
India competed in its first Davis Cup in 1921. But India lost the Davis Cup at first. India finished as runners-up 3 times in 1966, 1974, and 1987. In 1974, there was the final match played between India and South Africa. But the final match was with held and South Africa was awarded the Davis Cup after India refused to participate in the final due to the South African government`s "apartheid" policies. India were strong favorites to win with Vijay Amritraj and Anand Amritraj at their best. They competed in the World Group stage and lost to Serbia at the first round for the 2011 Davis Cup.

In the recent era in the world of game in India tennis with its entire glamour has stood apart as one of the popular games in India. With the systematic development of varied tennis tournaments, tennis in India has become a name laced with its sheer brilliance and promise.

Current Indian Davis Cup Team
The present Indian Davis Cup team includes Leander Paes, Yuki Bhambri, Rohan Bopanna, Somdev DevVarman and Saketh Myneni.

Most Successful Team in Davis Cup
The most successful countries over the history of the tournament are the United States (winning 32 tournaments and finishing as runners-up 29 times) and Australia (winning 28 times, including four occasions with New Zealand as Australasia, and finishing as runners-up 19 times). The present champions are Great Britain who beat Belgium to win the title for the 10th time in 2015. It was Great Britain`s first title in 79 years, and first in the open era. The win moved Great Britain to third on the all time winners list.

Davis cup had only been own by Britain and Australia till the year 1973. In 1974 this command was broken by South Africa and India by reaching the final. Indians were strong favourites to win with the legendary tennis player captaining the team. They competed in the World Group stage and lost to Serbia at the first round for the 2011 Davis Cup.

The overall Scenario of India`s performance in Davis Cup