1921 International Lawn Tennis Challenge

The 1921 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the 16th edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. In the playoff finals, newcomers Japan surprised Australasia 4–1, but would fall to defending champions the United States in the Challenge Round. The final was played 2–5 September at the West Side Tennis Club in New York City.^[1][2]

1921 International Lawn Tennis Challenge

Details
Duration	23 May – 5 September 1921
Edition	16th
Teams	11
Champion
Winning nation	United States
← 1920 1922 →

Teams

The tournament saw a boom in entries, with a record 12 teams entering to challenge for the cup. Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, India, Japan, the Philippines, and Spain all entered the tournament for the first time, although Argentina and the Philippines withdrew after the draw.

Draw

First round May–July

Quarterfinals 16 July–6 August

Semifinals 18–21 August

Final 22–27 August

France

Paris, France (clay)

bye

France

1

India

4

India

Chicago, Illinois (grass)

bye

India

0

Japan

5

Japan [3]

w/o

Philippines

Japan [4]

w/o

Prague, Czechoslovakia

Belgium

Czechoslovakia

2

Newport, Rhode Island (grass)

Belgium

3

Japan

4

Toronto, Ontario (clay)

Australasia

1

Canada

0

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (grass)

Australasia

5

Australasia

3

Hendon, England (clay)

Great Britain

2

Great Britain

4

Cleveland, Ohio (grass)

Spain

1

Australasia

5

Denmark

0

bye

Argentina

Argentina

Denmark [5]

w/o

bye

Denmark

First round

Czechoslovakia vs. Belgium

Czechoslovakia 2	Prague, Czechoslovakia[6] 13–16 June 1921		Belgium 3
1 2 3 4 5 1 Karel Ardelt Jean Washer 6 4 5 7 5 7 3 6     2 Ladislav Žemla Albert Lammens 6 2 6 4 6 2       3 Jaroslav Just / Ladislav Žemla Albert Lammens / Jean Washer 6 4 6 3 6 8 4 6 0 6   4 Ladislav Žemla Jean Washer 3 6 6 3 9 7 2 6 6 2   5 Karel Ardelt Albert Lammens 3 6 2 6 6 4 1 6

Great Britain v Spain

Great Britain 4	London Country Club, Hendon, England[7] 23–25 May 1921 Clay		Spain 1
1 2 3 4 5 1 Gordon Lowe Manuel de Gomar 6 3 4 6 6 1 6 0     2 Randolph Lycett Manuel Alonso Areizaga 6 4 6 2 6 4       3 Max Woosnam / Randolph Lycett Manuel Alonso Areizaga / Manuel de Gomar 2 6 9 7 6 2 6 2     4 Gordon Lowe Manuel Alonso Areizaga 6 8 1 6 6 8       5 Randolph Lycett Manuel de Gomar 6 1 6 8 7 9 6 3 6 2

Canada vs. Australasia

Canada 0	Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, Toronto, Ontario[8] 23–27 July 1921 Clay		Australasia 5
1 2 3 4 5 1 Henri Laframboise James Anderson 6 4 5 7 0 6 2 6     2 Paul Bennett John Hawkes 6 8 4 6 4 6       3 Paul Bennett / George Holmes James Anderson / Clarence Todd 2 6 3 6 1 6       4 Paul Bennett James Anderson 3 6 0 6 2 6       5 Henri Laframboise Clarence Todd 2 6 2 6 8 6 2 6

Quarterfinals

France vs. India

France 1	Racing Club de France, Paris, France[9] 16–18 July 1921 Clay		India 4
1 2 3 4 5 1 Jean-Pierre Samazeuilh Sydney Jacob 6 3 8 6 7 5       2 William Laurentz Mohammed Sleem 6 4 2 6 6 3 2 6 0 6   3 Jacques Brugnon / William Laurentz Lewis Deane / Athar-Ali Fyzee 1 6 6 2 7 5 2 6 4 6   4 Jean-Pierre Samazeuilh Mohammed Sleem 1 6 3 6 3 6       5 Jacques Brugnon Lewis Deane 3 6 6 4 5 7 6 4 6 8

Australasia vs. Great Britain

Australasia 3	Allegheny County Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[10] 4–6 August 1921 Grass		Great Britain 2
1 2 3 4 5 1 James Anderson Max Woosnam 6 4 6 2 6 4       2 John Hawkes Gordon Lowe 4 6 4 6 1 6       3 James Anderson / Clarence Todd Noel Turnbull / Max Woosnam 4 6 9 7 4 6 6 2 6 4   4 James Anderson Gordon Lowe 6 2 6 3 3 6 6 2     5 John Hawkes Max Woosnam 3 6 6 0 9 7 3 6 3 6

Semifinals

India vs. Japan

India 0	Lake Forest, Illinois[11] 18–20 August 1921 Grass		Japan 5
1 2 3 4 5 1 Mohammed Sleem Zenzo Shimizu 5 7 6 2 0 6 2 6     2 Hassan Ali Fyzee Ichiya Kumagae 6 3 3 6 3 6 7 9     3 Lewis Deane / Hassan Ali Fyzee Ichiya Kumagae / Zenzo Shimizu 1 6 1 6 6 2 6 2 0 6   4 Hassan Ali Fyzee Zenzo Shimizu 2 6 1 6 7 9       5 Mohammed Sleem Ichiya Kumagae 7 9 1 6 1 6

Australasia vs. Denmark

Australasia 5	Mayfield Country Club, Cleveland, Ohio[12] 19–21 August 1921 Grass		Denmark 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 James Anderson Vagn Ingerslev 6 0 6 1 7 5       2 Norman Peach Erik Tegner 7 5 6 2 6 4       3 James Anderson / Clarence Todd Povl Henriksen / Erik Tegner 6 0 6 2 6 1       4 James Anderson Erik Tegner 6 0 6 2 6 1       5 Norman Peach Vagn Ingerslev 3 6 6 2 6 0 3 6 6 2

Final

Japan vs. Australasia

Japan 4	Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island[13] 22–27 August 1921 Grass		Australasia 1
1 2 3 4 5 1 Zenzo Shimizu James Anderson 6 4 7 5 6 4       2 Ichiya Kumagae John Hawkes 3 6 2 6 8 6 6 2 6 3   3 Ichiya Kumagae / Zenzo Shimizu James Anderson / Clarence Todd 6 4 4 6 6 8 0 6     4 Zenzo Shimizu John Hawkes 4 6 6 2 6 3 6 2     5 Ichiya Kumagae James Anderson 3 6 6 4 2 6 7 5 6 2

Challenge Round

United States vs. Japan

United States 5	West Side Tennis Club, New York, New York[14] 2–5 September 1921 Grass		Japan 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 Bill Johnston Ichiya Kumagae 6 2 6 4 6 2       2 Bill Tilden Zenzo Shimizu 5 7 4 6 7 5 6 2 6 1   3 Watson Washburn / Richard Norris Williams Ichiya Kumagae / Zenzo Shimizu 6 2 7 5 4 6 7 5     4 Bill Tilden Ichiya Kumagae 9 7 6 4 6 1       5 Bill Johnston Zenzo Shimizu 6 3 5 7 6 2 6 4