1978 Davis Cup

Political controversy

The competition was significantly marked by political issues: Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, and the Caribbean/West Indies all withdrew from the North & Central America Zone due to the continued presence of South Africa in the competition, despite continued international condemnation of their government's apartheid policies.

The North & Central America Zone final between the United States and South Africa, held at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, attracted crowds of up to 5,000 protesters each day, and efforts by the South African side to appease critics by nominating Peter Lamb as its first "coloured" player were derided by some as tokenism, given he did not actually play during the tie and was a student enrolled at Vanderbilt University at the time of the tournament.

The Soviet Union continued to be barred for competing following its refusal to compete against Chile in the 1976 semifinals and its promised refusal to compete against South Africa.

Americas Zone

Main article: 1978 Davis Cup Americas Zone

North & Central America Zone

| RD1-date=15–17 December 1977 | RD2-date=17–19 March

| RD1-text1= | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1= | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1-text2=Johannesburg, South Africa | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=4 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=1

| RD2-text1=Nashville, TN, United States (indoor carpet) | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=4 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=1

South America Zone

Preliminary rounds

| RD1-date=1–6 November 1977 | RD2-date=9–11 December 1977

| RD1-text1= | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1= | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1-text2=Lima, Peru | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=0 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=5

| RD1-text3=Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5= | RD1-score5=3 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6= | RD1-score6=2

| RD1-text4= | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7= | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8= | RD1-score8=

| RD2-text1=Santiago, Chile | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=5 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=0

| RD2-text2=Montevideo, Uruguay | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= | RD2-score3=4 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= | RD2-score4=1

Main Draw

| RD1-date=18–20 December 1977 | RD2-date=17–19 March

| RD1-text1=Santiago, Chile | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=5 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2= | RD1-score2=0

| RD1-text2= | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3=bye | RD1-score3= | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=

| RD2-text1=Santiago, Chile (clay) | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=3 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=2

Americas Inter-Zonal Final

Chile vs. United States

Eastern Zone

Main article: 1978 Davis Cup Eastern Zone

Preliminary rounds

| RD1-date=1–10 October 1977 | RD2-date=21–30 October 1977

| RD1-text1=Manila, Philippines | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=5 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2= | RD1-score2=0

| RD1-text2=Tokyo, Japan | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=5 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=0

| RD1-text3=Rawalpindi, Pakistan | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5= | RD1-score5=4 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6= | RD1-score6=0

| RD1-text4= | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7= | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8= | RD1-score8=

| RD2-text1=Manila, Philippines | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=1 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=4

| RD2-text2=Seoul, South Korea | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= | RD2-score3=2 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= | RD2-score4=3

Main Draw

| RD1-date=9–12 December 1977 | RD2-date=19–22 January | RD3-date=24–26 February

| RD1-text1= | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1= | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1-text2=Tokyo, Japan | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=1 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=4

| RD1-text3=Coimbatore, India | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5= | RD1-score5=1 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6= | RD1-score6=4

| RD1-text4= | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7= | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8= | RD1-score8=

| RD2-text1=Tokyo, Japan (clay) | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=5 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=0

| RD2-text2=New Delhi, India | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= | RD2-score3=1 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= | RD2-score4=4

| RD3-text1=Adelaide, Australia (grass) | RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1= | RD3-score1=4 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2= | RD3-score2=0

Final

Australia vs. New Zealand

Europe Zone

Main article: 1978 Davis Cup Europe Zone

Zone A

Preliminary rounds

| RD1-date=10–12 August 1977 16–18 September 1977 | RD2-date=17–19 March

| RD1-text1=Monte Carlo, Monaco | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=5 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2= | RD1-score2=0

| RD1-text2= | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3=bye | RD1-score3= | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=

| RD1-text3=Tel Aviv, Israel (hard) | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5= | RD1-score5=5 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6= | RD1-score6=0

| RD1-text4= | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7= | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8= | RD1-score8=

| RD1-text5= | RD1-seed9= | RD1-team9= | RD1-score9= | RD1-seed10= | RD1-team10=bye | RD1-score10=

| RD1-text6=Zeist, Netherlands (clay) | RD1-seed11= | RD1-team11= | RD1-score11=4 | RD1-seed12= | RD1-team12= | RD1-score12=1

| RD1-text7= | RD1-seed13= | RD1-team13= | RD1-score13= | RD1-seed14= | RD1-team14=bye | RD1-score14=

| RD1-text8=Algiers, Algeria (clay) | RD1-seed15= | RD1-team15= | RD1-score15=1 | RD1-seed16= | RD1-team16= | RD1-score16=4

| RD2-text1=Monte Carlo, Monaco (clay) | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=0 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=5

| RD2-text2=Tel Aviv, Israel (hard) | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= | RD2-score3=2 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= | RD2-score4=3

| RD2-text3=Prague, Czechoslovakia (indoor clay) | RD2-seed5= | RD2-team5= | RD2-score5=3 | RD2-seed6= | RD2-team6= | RD2-score6=1

| RD2-text4=Warsaw, Poland | RD2-seed7= | RD2-team7= | RD2-score7=4 | RD2-seed8= | RD2-team8= | RD2-score8=1

Main Draw

| RD1-date=16–18 June | RD2-date=13–15 July | RD3-date=15–17 September

| RD1-text1= | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1= | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1-text2=Bristol, United Kingdom (grass) | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=5 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=0

| RD1-text3=Prague, Czechoslovakia (clay) | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5= | RD1-score5=3 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6= | RD1-score6=2

| RD1-text4= | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7= | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8= | RD1-score8=

| RD2-text1=Paris, France (clay) | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=2 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=3

| RD2-text2=Prague, Czechoslovakia (clay) | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= | RD2-score3=5 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= | RD2-score4=0

| RD3-text1=Eastbourne, United Kingdom (grass) | RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1= | RD3-score1=5 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2= | RD3-score2=0

Final

Great Britain vs. Czechoslovakia

Zone B

Pre-qualifying round

| RD1-date=27–29 August 1977

| RD1-text1=Casablanca, Morocco | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=5 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2= | RD1-score2=0

Preliminary rounds

| RD1-date=16–18 September 1977 | RD2-date=17–19 March

| RD1-text1=Casablanca, Morocco (clay) | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=4 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2= | RD1-score2=1

| RD1-text2= | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3=bye | RD1-score3= | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=

| RD1-text3=Dublin, Ireland (grass) | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5= | RD1-score5=4 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6= | RD1-score6=1

| RD1-text4= | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7= | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8= | RD1-score8=

| RD1-text5= | RD1-seed9= | RD1-team9= | RD1-score9= | RD1-seed10= | RD1-team10=bye | RD1-score10=

| RD1-text6=Brussels, Belgium (clay) | RD1-seed11= | RD1-team11= | RD1-score11=3 | RD1-seed12= | RD1-team12= | RD1-score12=2

| RD1-text7=Lucerne, Switzerland | RD1-seed13= | RD1-team13= | RD1-score13=5 | RD1-seed14= | RD1-team14= | RD1-score14=0

| RD1-text8= | RD1-seed15= | RD1-team15=bye | RD1-score15= | RD1-seed16= | RD1-team16= | RD1-score16=

| RD2-text1=Casablanca, Morocco | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=0 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=5

| RD2-text2=Dublin, Ireland (indoor hard) | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= | RD2-score3=0 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= | RD2-score4=5

| RD2-text3=Pécs, Hungary | RD2-seed5= | RD2-team5= | RD2-score5=4 | RD2-seed6= | RD2-team6= | RD2-score6=1

| RD2-text4=Zürich, Switzerland | RD2-seed7= | RD2-team7= | RD2-score7=0 | RD2-seed8= | RD2-team8= | RD2-score8=5

Main Draw

| RD1-date=13–18 June | RD2-date=13–16 July | RD3-date=15–17 September

| RD1-text1= | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1= | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=bye | RD1-score2=

| RD1-text2=Belgrade, Yugoslavia (clay) | RD1-seed3= | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=2 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=3

| RD1-text3=Budapest, Hungary | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5= | RD1-score5=3 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6= | RD1-score6=2

| RD1-text4= | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=bye | RD1-score7= | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8= | RD1-score8=

| RD2-text1=Båstad, Sweden (clay) | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=2 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=3

| RD2-text2=Budapest, Hungary | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3= | RD2-score3=4 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4= | RD2-score4=1

| RD3-text1=Båstad, Sweden (clay) | RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1= | RD3-score1=3 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2= | RD3-score2=1

Final

Sweden vs. Hungary

Inter-Zonal Zone

Draw

| RD1-date=6–8 October | RD2-date=8–10 December | seed-width=4

| RD1-text1=Gothenburg, Sweden (indoor carpet) | RD1-seed1=EUR-B | RD1-team1= | RD1-score1=2 | RD1-seed2=AME | RD1-team2= | RD1-score2=3

| RD1-text2=London, United Kingdom (indoor carpet) | RD1-seed3=EAS | RD1-team3= | RD1-score3=2 | RD1-seed4=EUR-A | RD1-team4= | RD1-score4=3

| RD2-text1=Rancho Mirage, CA, United States (hard) | RD2-seed1=AME | RD2-team1= | RD2-score1=4 | RD2-seed2=EUR-A | RD2-team2= | RD2-score2=1

Semifinals

Sweden vs. United States

Great Britain vs. Australia

Final

United States vs. Great Britain

References

References

1. Bud Collins. (2010). "The Bud Collins History of Tennis". New Chapter Press.
2. (4 July 1977). "Canada heads pullout from 1978 Davis Cup". [[Montreal Gazette]].
3. "African Activist Archive".
4. Jim Jerome. (20 March 1978). "Apartheid Critics Say He's Merely a Token, but Peter Lamb's Davis Cup Runneth Over".
5. "The Crisis".
6. "Chile v United States". daviscup.com.
7. "Jaime Fillol vs Brian Gottfried". atptour.com.
8. "Australia v New Zealand". daviscup.com.
9. "Great Britain v Czechoslovakia". daviscup.com.
10. "Sweden v Hungary". daviscup.com.
11. "Sweden v United States". daviscup.com.
12. "Great Britain v Australia". daviscup.com.
13. "United States v Great Britain". daviscup.com.