Russia (known throughout the tournament as the Russian Tennis Federation) won the 2021 Davis Cup on Sunday from Madrid, Spain. In the minimum number of sets in the final required in order to be victorious, the RTF received straight set wins from world number two Daniil Medvedev of Moscow, and world number five Andrey Rublev of Moscow to beat Croatia two matches to none. Rublev opened the tie with a straight set 6-4, 7-6 win over Borna Gojo, and then Medvedev defeated Marin Cilic 7-6, 6-2.
This was the third career victory in the Davis Cup for Russia. In 2002 at the Palais Omnisports in Paris, France, Russia defeated France three matches to two. While playing in an indoor clay stadium, the Russians had two singles victories from Marat Safin and one win from Mikhail Youzhny. In the fifth and deciding match, Youzhny defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
In 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia defeated Argentina three matches to two. That year the Russians had singles wins from Nikolay Davydenko and Safin, and a doubles victory from Safin and Dmitry Tursunov. Safin won the deciding rubber in four sets over Jose Acasuso of Argentina, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
The Davis Cup version of today no longer is best-of-five, as a best-of-three format has been implemented. Players participate in a pre-determined venue.
It should have been no surprise that Russia won the 2021 Davis Cup. By having the luxury of sending their top team (two players in the top five in the world), they were the clear favourites heading into the premier men’s team tennis tournament. After beating Sweden in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Russia defeated Germany 2-1 on Saturday thanks to singles wins by Medvedev and Rublev. Croatia meanwhile defeated Serbia 2-1 thanks to a singles win by Borna Gojo, and a doubles win by Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
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