# 1998 Davis Cup

The 1998 Davis Cup (also known as the 1998 Davis Cup by NEC for sponsorship purposes) was the 87th edition of the Davis Cup, the most important tournament between national teams in men's tennis. 131 teams entered the competition, 16 in the World Group, 30 in the Americas Zone, 30 in the Asia/Oceania Zone, and 55 in the Europe/Africa Zone. Honduras, Iraq, the Netherlands Antilles, Saint Lucia and the U.S. Virgin Islands made their first appearances in the tournament.
Sweden defeated Italy in the final, held at the Forum di Assago in Milan, Italy, on 4–6 December, to win their second consecutive title and their 7th title overall.

## World Group

Participating teams :
| Australia | Belgium | Brazil | Czech Republic |
| Germany | India | Italy | Netherlands |
| Russia | Slovakia | South Africa | Spain |
| Sweden | Switzerland | United States | Zimbabwe |

### Draw

| First round 3–6 April | First round 3–6 April | First round 3–6 April | Quarterfinals 17–19 July | Quarterfinals 17–19 July | Quarterfinals 17–19 July | Semifinals 25–27 September | Semifinals 25–27 September | Semifinals 25–27 September | Final 4–6 December | Final 4–6 December | Final 4–6 December |
| Bratislava, Slovakia (indoor clay) | Bratislava, Slovakia (indoor clay) | Bratislava, Slovakia (indoor clay) | | | | | | | | | |
| Sweden | Sweden | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Sweden | Sweden | 3 | Hamburg, Germany (hard) | Hamburg, Germany (hard) | Hamburg, Germany (hard) | | | | | | |
| Slovakia | Slovakia | 2 | Hamburg, Germany (hard) | Hamburg, Germany (hard) | Hamburg, Germany (hard) | | | | | | |
| Slovakia | Slovakia | 2 | Sweden | Sweden | 3 | | | | | | |
| Bremen, Germany (indoor carpet) | Bremen, Germany (indoor carpet) | Bremen, Germany (indoor carpet) | Sweden | Sweden | 3 | | | | | | |
| Bremen, Germany (indoor carpet) | Bremen, Germany (indoor carpet) | Bremen, Germany (indoor carpet) | Germany | Germany | 2 | | | | | | |
| Germany | Germany | 5 | Germany | Germany | 2 | | | | | | |
| Germany | Germany | 5 | | | | Stockholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Stockholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Stockholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | | | |
| South Africa | South Africa | 0 | | | | Stockholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Stockholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Stockholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | | | |
| South Africa | South Africa | 0 | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | |
| Porto Alegre, Brazil (clay) | Porto Alegre, Brazil (clay) | Porto Alegre, Brazil (clay) | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | |
| Porto Alegre, Brazil (clay) | Porto Alegre, Brazil (clay) | Porto Alegre, Brazil (clay) | | | | Spain | Spain | 1 | | | |
| Spain | Spain | 3 | | | | Spain | Spain | 1 | | | |
| Spain | Spain | 3 | A Coruña, Spain (clay) | A Coruña, Spain (clay) | A Coruña, Spain (clay) | | | | | | |
| Brazil | Brazil | 2 | A Coruña, Spain (clay) | A Coruña, Spain (clay) | A Coruña, Spain (clay) | | | | | | |
| Brazil | Brazil | 2 | Spain | Spain | 4 | | | | | | |
| Zürich, Switzerland (indoor carpet) | Zürich, Switzerland (indoor carpet) | Zürich, Switzerland (indoor carpet) | Spain | Spain | 4 | | | | | | |
| Zürich, Switzerland (indoor carpet) | Zürich, Switzerland (indoor carpet) | Zürich, Switzerland (indoor carpet) | Switzerland | Switzerland | 1 | | | | | | |
| Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 2 | Switzerland | Switzerland | 1 | | | | | | |
| Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 2 | | | | | | | Milan, Italy (indoor clay) | Milan, Italy (indoor clay) | Milan, Italy (indoor clay) |
| Switzerland | Switzerland | 3 | | | | | | | Milan, Italy (indoor clay) | Milan, Italy (indoor clay) | Milan, Italy (indoor clay) |
| Switzerland | Switzerland | 3 | | | | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 |
| Genoa, Italy (clay) | Genoa, Italy (clay) | Genoa, Italy (clay) | | | | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 |
| Genoa, Italy (clay) | Genoa, Italy (clay) | Genoa, Italy (clay) | | | | | | | Italy | Italy | 1 |
| India | India | 1 | | | | | | | Italy | Italy | 1 |
| India | India | 1 | Prato, Italy (clay) | Prato, Italy (clay) | Prato, Italy (clay) | | | | | | |
| Italy | Italy | 4 | Prato, Italy (clay) | Prato, Italy (clay) | Prato, Italy (clay) | | | | | | |
| Italy | Italy | 4 | Italy | Italy | 5 | | | | | | |
| Mildura, Australia (grass) | Mildura, Australia (grass) | Mildura, Australia (grass) | Italy | Italy | 5 | | | | | | |
| Mildura, Australia (grass) | Mildura, Australia (grass) | Mildura, Australia (grass) | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 0 | | | | | | |
| Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 3 | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 0 | | | | | | |
| Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 3 | | | | Milwaukee, WI, United States (indoor hard) | Milwaukee, WI, United States (indoor hard) | Milwaukee, WI, United States (indoor hard) | | | |
| Australia | Australia | 2 | | | | Milwaukee, WI, United States (indoor hard) | Milwaukee, WI, United States (indoor hard) | Milwaukee, WI, United States (indoor hard) | | | |
| Australia | Australia | 2 | | | | Italy | Italy | 4 | | | |
| Brussels, Belgium (clay) | Brussels, Belgium (clay) | Brussels, Belgium (clay) | | | | Italy | Italy | 4 | | | |
| Brussels, Belgium (clay) | Brussels, Belgium (clay) | Brussels, Belgium (clay) | | | | United States | 1 | |
| Belgium | Belgium | 3 | | | | United States | 1 | |
| Belgium | Belgium | 3 | Indianapolis, IN, United States (hard) | Indianapolis, IN, United States (hard) | Indianapolis, IN, United States (hard) | | | | | |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | 1 | Indianapolis, IN, United States (hard) | Indianapolis, IN, United States (hard) | Indianapolis, IN, United States (hard) | | | | | |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | 1 | Belgium | Belgium | 1 | | | | | |
| Atlanta, GA, United States (hard) | Atlanta, GA, United States (hard) | Atlanta, GA, United States (hard) | Belgium | Belgium | 1 | | | | | |
| Atlanta, GA, United States (hard) | Atlanta, GA, United States (hard) | Atlanta, GA, United States (hard) | United States | United States | 4 | | | | | |
| Russia | Russia | 2 | United States | United States | 4 | | | | | |
| United States | United States | 3 | | | | | | | | |

### Final

Italy vs. Sweden
| Italy 1 | Forum di Assago, Milan, Italy 4–6 December 1998 Clay (indoors) | Forum di Assago, Milan, Italy 4–6 December 1998 Clay (indoors) | Sweden 4 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Andrea Gaudenzi Magnus Norman 7$^{11}$ 6$^9$ 6$^0$ 7$^7$ 6 4 3 6 6 6 retired  2 Davide Sanguinetti Magnus Gustafsson 1 6 4 6 0 6       3 Diego Nargiso / Davide Sanguinetti Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti 6$^1$ 7$^7$ 1 6 3 6       4 Gianluca Pozzi Magnus Gustafsson 4 6 2 6         5 Diego Nargiso Magnus Norman 6 2 6 3 ||||

## World Group qualifying round

Date: 25–28 September
The eight losing teams in the World Group first round ties and eight winners of the Zonal Group I final round ties competed in the World Group qualifying round for spots in the 1999 World Group.
| Home team | Score | Visiting team | Location | Venue | Door | Surface |
| Australia | 5–0 | Uzbekistan | Townsville | Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre | Indoor | Hard |
| Brazil | 3–0 | Romania | Florianópolis | Hotel Costão do Santinho | Outdoor | Clay |
| Czech Republic | 5–0 | South Africa | Prague | National Tennis Centre | Outdoor | Clay |
| Israel | 1–4 | France | Ramat HaSharon | Canada Stadium | Outdoor | Hard |
| Great Britain | 3–2 | India | Nottingham | Nottingham Tennis Centre | Outdoor | Hard |
| Netherlands | 5–0 | Ecuador | Eindhoven | Indoor-Sportcentrum Eindhoven | Indoor | Carpet |
| Japan | 1–3 | Russia | Osaka | Utsubo Tennis Center | Outdoor | Hard |
| Argentina | 2–3 | Slovakia | Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club | Outdoor | Clay |
* Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Russia and Slovakia remain in the World Group in 1999.
* France and Great Britain are promoted to the World Group in 1999.
* Argentina, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, Romania and Uzbekistan remain in Zonal Group I in 1999.
* India and South Africa are relegated to Zonal Group I in 1999.

## Americas Zone
### Group I

| Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | | | | Chile | Chile | | | | |
| | | | Santiago, Chile (indoor carpet) | Santiago, Chile (indoor carpet) | Santiago, Chile (indoor carpet) | bye | bye | | Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) | Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) | Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) |
| | | | Chile | Chile | 5 | | | | Chile | Chile | 1 |
| | | | Colombia | Colombia | 0 | Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) | Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) | Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) | Argentina | Argentina | 4 |
| | | | | | | Colombia | 0 | | | |
| Cali, Colombia (clay) | Cali, Colombia (clay) | Cali, Colombia (clay) | | | | Argentina | Argentina | | 5 | | |
| Colombia | Colombia | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mexico | Mexico | 2 | | | | Nassau, Bahamas (hard) | Nassau, Bahamas (hard) | Nassau, Bahamas (hard) | | | |
| | | | | | | Ecuador | Ecuador | | 5 | | |
| | | | Zapopan, Mexico (clay) | Zapopan, Mexico (clay) | Zapopan, Mexico (clay) | Bahamas | Bahamas | 0 | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) | Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay) |
| | | | Bahamas | Bahamas | 3 | | | | Ecuador | Ecuador | 3 |
| | | | Mexico | Mexico | 2 | Halifax, Canada (indoor hard) | Halifax, Canada (indoor hard) | Halifax, Canada (indoor hard) | Canada | Canada | 2 |
| | | | | | | Canada | Canada | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | Mexico | Mexico | 2 | | | |
* Mexico relegated to Group II in 1999.
* Argentina and Ecuador advance to World Group qualifying round.

### Group II

| Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round |
| | | | Caracas, Venezuela (hard) | Caracas, Venezuela (hard) | Caracas, Venezuela (hard) | | | | | | |
| | | | Venezuela | Venezuela | 4 | | | | | | |
| Havana, Cuba (hard) | Havana, Cuba (hard) | Havana, Cuba (hard) | Guatemala | Guatemala | 1 | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (clay) | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (clay) | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (clay) | | | |
| Guatemala | Guatemala | 2 | | | | Venezuela | Venezuela | 3 | | | |
| Cuba | Cuba | 3 | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (hard) | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (hard) | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (hard) | Haiti | Haiti | 2 | | | |
| | | | Haiti | Haiti | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | Cuba | Cuba | 2 | | | | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) |
| | | | | | | | | | Venezuela | Venezuela | 3 |
| | | | Lima, Peru (clay) | Lima, Peru (clay) | Lima, Peru (clay) | | | | Uruguay | Uruguay | 2 |
| | | | Jamaica | Jamaica | 0 | | | | | |
| Asunción, Paraguay (clay) | Asunción, Paraguay (clay) | Asunción, Paraguay (clay) | Peru | Peru | 5 | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | | | |
| Jamaica | Jamaica | 0 | | | | Peru | Peru | 1 | | | |
| Paraguay | Paraguay | 5 | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Montevideo, Uruguay (clay) | Uruguay | Uruguay | 4 | | | |
| | | | Paraguay | Paraguay | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | Uruguay | Uruguay | 3 | | | | | | |
* Guatemala and Jamaica relegated to Group III in 1999.
* Venezuela promoted to Group I in 1999.

### Group III

* Venue: Santa Cruz Tennis Club, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
* Date: 29 April–3 May
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Dominican Republic |
| 2 | Costa Rica |
| 3 | El Salvador |
| 4 | Bolivia |
| 5 | Panama |
| 6 | Antigua and Barbuda |
| 7 | Puerto Rico |
| 8 | Bermuda |
* Dominican Republic and Costa Rica promoted to Group II in 1999.
* Puerto Rico and Bermuda relegated to Group IV in 1999.

### Group IV

* Venue: St. Lucia Racquet Club, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
* Date: 23–29 March
| | AHO | HON | LCA | TRI | BAR | ISV | ECA | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Netherlands Antilles | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 16–2 (89%) | 33–5 (87%) | 1 |
| Honduras | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 11–7 (61%) | 24–16 (60%) | 2 |
| Saint Lucia | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 10–8 (56%) | 22–17 (56%) | 3 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 8–10 (44%) | 17–21 (45%) | 4 |
| Barbados | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 7–11 (39%) | 17–26 (40%) | 5 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–4 | 7–11 (39%) | 16–22 (42%) | 6 |
| Eastern Caribbean | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 0–6 | 4–14 (22%) | 9–31 (23%) | 7 |
* Netherlands Antilles and Honduras promoted to Group III in 1999.

## Asia/Oceania Zone
### Group I

| Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | | | | South Korea | South Korea | | | | |
| | | | Seoul, South Korea (hard) | Seoul, South Korea (hard) | Seoul, South Korea (hard) | bye | bye | | Seoul, South Korea (clay) | Seoul, South Korea (clay) | Seoul, South Korea (clay) |
| | | | South Korea | South Korea | 4 | | | | South Korea | South Korea | 1 |
| | | | China | China | 1 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan (indoor hard) | Tashkent, Uzbekistan (indoor hard) | Tashkent, Uzbekistan (indoor hard) | Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 3 |
| | | | | | | Uzbekistan | 5 | | | |
| Yanji, China (hard) | Yanji, China (hard) | Yanji, China (hard) | | | | China | China | | 0 | | |
| China | China | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| Indonesia | Indonesia | 0 | | | | Sapporo, Japan (indoor carpet) | Sapporo, Japan (indoor carpet) | Sapporo, Japan (indoor carpet) | | | |
| | | | | | | Indonesia | Indonesia | | 0 | | |
| | | | Zouk Mikael, Lebanon (indoor hard) | Zouk Mikael, Lebanon (indoor hard) | Zouk Mikael, Lebanon (indoor hard) | Japan | Japan | 5 | Miyazaki, Japan (clay) | Miyazaki, Japan (clay) | Miyazaki, Japan (clay) |
| | | | Indonesia | Indonesia | 2 | | | | Japan | Japan | 3 |
| | | | Lebanon | Lebanon | 3 | Beirut, Lebanon (indoor hard) | Beirut, Lebanon (indoor hard) | Beirut, Lebanon (indoor hard) | New Zealand | New Zealand | 2 |
| | | | | | | Lebanon | Lebanon | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 | | | |
* Indonesia relegated to Group II in 1999.
* Uzbekistan and Japan advance to World Group qualifying round.

### Group II

| Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round |
| | | | Manila, Philippines (indoor clay) | Manila, Philippines (indoor clay) | Manila, Philippines (indoor clay) | | | | | | |
| | | | Philippines | Philippines | 1 | | | | | | |
| Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (hard) | Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (hard) | Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (hard) | Thailand | Thailand | 4 | Pattaya, Thailand (hard) | Pattaya, Thailand (hard) | Pattaya, Thailand (hard) | | | |
| Philippines | Philippines | 4 | | | | Thailand | Thailand | 3 | | | |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 1 | Yilan, Taiwan (indoor carpet) | Yilan, Taiwan (indoor carpet) | Yilan, Taiwan (indoor carpet) | Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei | 2 | | | |
| | | | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei | 3 | | | | Lahore, Pakistan (grass) | Lahore, Pakistan (grass) | Lahore, Pakistan (grass) |
| | | | | | | | | | Thailand | Thailand | 2 |
| | | | Islamabad, Pakistan (clay) | Islamabad, Pakistan (clay) | Islamabad, Pakistan (clay) | | | | Pakistan | Pakistan | 3 |
| | | | Pakistan | Pakistan | 5 | | | | | |
| Doha, Qatar (hard) | Doha, Qatar (hard) | Doha, Qatar (hard) | Pacific Oceania | Pacific Oceania | 0 | Tehran, Iran (clay) | Tehran, Iran (clay) | Tehran, Iran (clay) | | | |
| Pacific Oceania | Pacific Oceania | 1 | | | | Pakistan | Pakistan | 4 | | | |
| Qatar | Qatar | 4 | Tehran, Iran (indoor clay) | Tehran, Iran (indoor clay) | Tehran, Iran (indoor clay) | Iran | Iran | 1 | | | |
| | | | Qatar | Qatar | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | Iran | Iran | 5 | | | | | | |
* Hong Kong and Pacific Oceania relegated to Group III in 1999.
* Pakistan promoted to Group I in 1999.

### Group III

* Venue: National Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
* Date: 15–19 April
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Kazakhstan |
| 2 | Sri Lanka |
| 3 | Tajikistan |
| 4 | Malaysia |
| 5 | Syria |
| 6 | Saudi Arabia |
| 7 | Singapore |
| 8 | Kuwait |
* Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka promoted to Group II in 1999.
* Singapore and Kuwait relegated to Group IV in 1999.

### Group IV

* Venue: National Complex, Ramna Park, Dhaka, Bangladesh
* Date: 9–15 February
| | BHR | BAN | IRQ | JOR | OMA | UAE | BRU | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Bahrain | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 15–3 (83%) | 32–9 (78%) | 1 |
| Bangladesh | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 14–4 (78%) | 31–13 (70%) | 2 |
| Iraq | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 12–6 (67%) | 26–14 (65%) | 3 |
| Jordan | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 10–8 (56%) | 22–17 (56%) | 4 |
| Oman | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 7–11 (39%) | 14–24 (37%) | 5 |
| United Arab Emirates | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 1–5 | 3–15 (17%) | 8–29 (22%) | 6 |
| Brunei | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 0–6 | 2–16 (11%) | 5–32 (14%) | 7 |
* Bahrain and Bangladesh promoted to Group III in 1999.

## Europe/Africa Zone
### Group I

| Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | Second Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round |
| | | | | | France | France | | | | |
| | | | | | France | France | | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) |
| | | | | | bye | bye | | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) | Helsinki, Finland (indoor carpet) |
| | | | Croatia | Croatia | bye | bye | | France | France | 4 |
| | | | Croatia | Croatia | Helsinki, Finland (hard) | Helsinki, Finland (hard) | Helsinki, Finland (hard) | France | France | 4 |
| | | | bye | bye | Helsinki, Finland (hard) | Helsinki, Finland (hard) | Helsinki, Finland (hard) | Finland | Finland | 1 |
| | | | bye | bye | Croatia | Croatia | 2 | Finland | Finland | 1 |
| Oslo, Norway (clay) | Oslo, Norway (clay) | Oslo, Norway (clay) | | | Croatia | Croatia | 2 | | | |
| Oslo, Norway (clay) | Oslo, Norway (clay) | Oslo, Norway (clay) | | | Finland | Finland | 3 | | | |
| Croatia | Croatia | 3 | | | Finland | Finland | 3 | | | |
| Norway | Norway | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Norway | Norway | 2 | | | Romania | Romania | | | | |
| | | | | | Romania | Romania | | Bucharest, Romania (indoor hard) | Bucharest, Romania (indoor hard) |
| | | | | | bye | bye | | Bucharest, Romania (indoor hard) | Bucharest, Romania (indoor hard) |
| | | | bye | bye | bye | bye | | Romania | Romania | 4 |
| | | | Norway | Norway | | | | Norway | Norway | 1 |
| | | | Norway | Norway | bye | bye | | Norway | Norway | 1 |
| | | | | | Norway | Norway | | | |
| | | | | | Israel | Israel | | | |
| | | | | | Israel | Israel | | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) |
| | | | | | bye | bye | | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) | Ramat HaSharon, Israel (hard) |
| | | | Austria | Austria | bye | bye | | Israel | Israel | 4 |
| | | | bye | bye | | | | Austria | Austria | 1 |
| | | | bye | bye | bye | bye | | Austria | Austria | 1 |
| Pörtschach, Austria (clay) | Pörtschach, Austria (clay) | Pörtschach, Austria (clay) | | | bye | bye | | | | |
| Pörtschach, Austria (clay) | Pörtschach, Austria (clay) | Pörtschach, Austria (clay) | | | Austria | Austria | | | | |
| Austria | Austria | 5 | | | Austria | Austria | | | | |
| Austria | Austria | 5 | | | Kyiv, Ukraine (indoor carpet) | Kyiv, Ukraine (indoor carpet) | Kyiv, Ukraine (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Denmark | Denmark | 0 | | | Kyiv, Ukraine (indoor carpet) | Kyiv, Ukraine (indoor carpet) | Kyiv, Ukraine (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Denmark | Denmark | 0 | | | Ukraine | Ukraine | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | Ukraine | Ukraine | 3 | Newcastle, England (indoor carpet) | Newcastle, England (indoor carpet) |
| | | | | | Denmark | Denmark | 2 | Newcastle, England (indoor carpet) | Newcastle, England (indoor carpet) |
| | | | Denmark | Denmark | Denmark | Denmark | 2 | Ukraine | Ukraine | 0 |
| | | | bye | bye | | | | Great Britain | Great Britain | 5 |
| | | | bye | bye | bye | bye | | Great Britain | Great Britain | 5 |
| | | | | | Great Britain | Great Britain | | | | |
* Norway and Denmark relegated to Group II in 1999.
* France, Romania, Israel, and Great Britain advance to World Group qualifying round.

### Group II

| Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | Relegation Play-offs | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round |
| | | | Meknes, Morocco (indoor clay) | Meknes, Morocco (indoor clay) | Meknes, Morocco (indoor clay) | | | | | | |
| | | | Morocco | Morocco | 3 | | | | | | |
| Sofia, Bulgaria (clay) | Sofia, Bulgaria (clay) | Sofia, Bulgaria (clay) | Morocco | Morocco | 3 | Agadir, Morocco (clay) | | | | | |
| Sofia, Bulgaria (clay) | Sofia, Bulgaria (clay) | Sofia, Bulgaria (clay) | Bulgaria | Bulgaria | 2 | Agadir, Morocco (clay) | | | | | |
| Bulgaria | Bulgaria | 5 | Bulgaria | Bulgaria | 2 | Morocco | Morocco | 2 | | | |
| Bulgaria | Bulgaria | 5 | Minsk, Belarus (indoor carpet) | Minsk, Belarus (indoor carpet) | Minsk, Belarus (indoor carpet) | Morocco | Morocco | 2 | | | |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 0 | Minsk, Belarus (indoor carpet) | Minsk, Belarus (indoor carpet) | Minsk, Belarus (indoor carpet) | Belarus | Belarus | 3 | | | |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 0 | Belarus | Belarus | 5 | Belarus | Belarus | 3 | | | |
| | | | Belarus | Belarus | 5 | | | | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) |
| | | | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 0 | | | | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) |
| | | | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 0 | | | | Belarus | Belarus | 4 |
| | | | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | | | | Belarus | Belarus | 4 |
| | | | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | | | | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 1 |
| | | | Poland | Poland | 2 | | | | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 1 |
| Bydgoszcz, Poland (clay) | Bydgoszcz, Poland (clay) | Bydgoszcz, Poland (clay) | Poland | Poland | 2 | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | | | |
| Bydgoszcz, Poland (clay) | Bydgoszcz, Poland (clay) | Bydgoszcz, Poland (clay) | Senegal | Senegal | 3 | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | Dakar, Senegal (hard) | | | |
| Poland | Poland | 4 | Senegal | Senegal | 3 | Senegal | Senegal | 2 | | | |
| Poland | Poland | 4 | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Senegal | Senegal | 2 | | | |
| Egypt | Egypt | 1 | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Abidjan, Ivory Coast (hard) | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 3 | | | |
| Egypt | Egypt | 1 | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 3 | Ivory Coast | Ivory Coast | 3 | | | |
| | | | Egypt | Egypt | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor carpet) | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor carpet) | Jūrmala, Latvia (indoor carpet) | | | | | | |
| | | | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 3 | | | | | | |
| Jūrmala, Latvia (clay) | Jūrmala, Latvia (clay) | Jūrmala, Latvia (clay) | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 3 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia (clay) | | | | | |
| Jūrmala, Latvia (clay) | Jūrmala, Latvia (clay) | Jūrmala, Latvia (clay) | Latvia | Latvia | 2 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia (clay) | | | | | |
| Latvia | Latvia | 5 | Latvia | Latvia | 2 | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 2 | | | |
| Latvia | Latvia | 5 | Braga, Portugal (clay) | Braga, Portugal (clay) | Braga, Portugal (clay) | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavia | 2 | | | |
| Georgia | Georgia | 0 | Braga, Portugal (clay) | Braga, Portugal (clay) | Braga, Portugal (clay) | Portugal | Portugal | 3 | | | |
| Georgia | Georgia | 0 | Georgia | Georgia | 0 | Portugal | Portugal | 3 | | | |
| | | | Georgia | Georgia | 0 | | | | Albufeira, Portugal (hard) | Albufeira, Portugal (hard) | Albufeira, Portugal (hard) |
| | | | Portugal | Portugal | 5 | | | | Albufeira, Portugal (hard) | Albufeira, Portugal (hard) | Albufeira, Portugal (hard) |
| | | | Portugal | Portugal | 5 | | | | Portugal | Portugal | 4 |
| | | | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (clay) | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (clay) | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (clay) | | | | Portugal | Portugal | 4 |
| | | | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (clay) | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (clay) | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (clay) | | | | Hungary | Hungary | 1 |
| | | | Slovenia | Slovenia | 5 | | | | Hungary | Hungary | 1 |
| Dublin, Ireland (carpet) | Dublin, Ireland (carpet) | Dublin, Ireland (carpet) | Slovenia | Slovenia | 5 | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | | | |
| Dublin, Ireland (carpet) | Dublin, Ireland (carpet) | Dublin, Ireland (carpet) | Monaco | Monaco | 0 | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | | | |
| Monaco | Monaco | 0 | Monaco | Monaco | 0 | Slovenia | Slovenia | 2 | | | |
| Monaco | Monaco | 0 | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Slovenia | Slovenia | 2 | | | |
| Ireland | Ireland | 5 | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Budapest, Hungary (clay) | Hungary | Hungary | 3 | | | |
| Ireland | Ireland | 5 | Ireland | Ireland | 1 | Hungary | Hungary | 3 | | | |
| | | | Hungary | Hungary | 4 | | | | | | |
* Luxembourg, Egypt, Georgia, and Monaco relegated to Group III in 1999.
* Belarus and Portugal promoted to Group I in 1999.

### Group III
#### Zone A

* Venue: Amicale Tennis Association, Lomé, Togo
* Date: 21–25 January
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Greece |
| 2 | Togo |
| 3 | Estonia |
| 4 | Ghana |
| 5 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 6 | Kenya |
| 7 | Madagascar |
| 8 | Cyprus |
* Greece and Togo promoted to Group II in 1999.
* Madagascar and Cyprus relegated to Group IV in 1999.

#### Zone B

* Venue: Jug Tennis Club, Skopje, Macedonia
* Date: 20–24 May
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Turkey |
| 2 | Macedonia |
| 3 | Lithuania |
| 4 | Nigeria |
| 5 | Tunisia |
| 6 | Moldova |
| 7 | San Marino |
| 8 | Malta |
* Turkey and Macedonia promoted to Group II in 1999.
* San Marino and Malta relegated to Group IV in 1999.

### Group IV
#### Zone A

* Venue: Lugogo Tennis Club, Kampala, Uganda
* Date: 28 January–1 February
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Armenia |
| 2 | Benin |
| 3 | Botswana |
| 4 | Cameroon |
| 5 | Uganda |
| 6 | Azerbaijan |
| 7 | Sudan |
| 8 | Djibouti |
* Armenia and Benin promoted to Group III in 1999.

#### Zone B

* Venue: Ndola Tennis Club, Ndola, Zambia
* Date: 6–10 May
| | ZAM | ALG | ETH | ISL | LIE | RR W–L | Match W–L | Set W–L | Standings |
| Zambia | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 11–1 (92%) | 23–5 (82%) | 1 |
| Algeria | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 9–3 (75%) | 19–13 (59%) | 2 |
| Ethiopia | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 5–7 (42%) | 12–17 (41%) | 3 |
| Iceland | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–9 (25%) | 12–19 (39%) | 4 |
| Liechtenstein | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 0–4 | 2–10 (17%) | 9–21 (30%) | 5 |
* Zambia and Algeria promoted to Group III in 1999.