Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/132044
davis cup by bnp paribas DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS REMAINS THE LARGEST ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL TEAM COMPETITION WITH 122 TEAMS AND 523 PLAYERS TAKING PART IN 2012 T he 2012 edition of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas saw Czech Republic win the competition's 100th Final and secure its first triumph since winning under the flag of Czechoslovakia in 1980. The hosts' thrilling 3-2 victory over Spain proved a fitting finale as the world's largest annual international team competition brought the curtain down on a strong year for team competition and national pride in our sport. A year that had seen the 2012 Olympic Tennis Event stir passionate displays from players in their country colours ended in equally patriotic fashion as Davis Cup stalwart Radek Stepanek dramatically clinched victory for the Czech Republic at the O2 Arena in Prague in November. Stepanek and Tomas Berdych played a crucial role in Czech Republic's success, playing in every tie in 2012 and between them conquering Alex Corretja's team of Nicolas Almagro, David Ferrer, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez in the Final. It was Stepanek who became the unlikely hero though, as the 34-year-old became the first man aged over 30 to win the 8 PROFESSIONAL TENNIS deciding fifth rubber in a hundred years. Czech Republic had defeated Italy, Serbia and Argentina before their victory over five-time champions Spain saw them become the first nation to win the Hopman Cup, Fed Cup and Davis Cup in the same year. In reaching the Davis Cup Final with wins over Kazakhstan, Austria and USA, Spain maintained its lead at the top of the year-end ITF Davis Cup Nations Rankings. Czech Republic has, however, closed the gap on the leaders by climbing up to second with an eye on ending Spain's dominance of the competition in the 21st century. Elsewhere, USA reached the semifinals for the first time since 2008 after defeating both Switzerland and France away on clay before Spain ended their promising run. Argentina, who had lost to Spain in the 2011 Final, missed out on its fourth Final with defeat to Czech Republic in the semifinals, while Belgium, Brazil and Israel won promotion back to the World Group after success in the play-offs.