# 1998 Davis Cup World Group

The World Group was the highest level of Davis Cup competition in 1998. The first-round losers went into the Davis Cup World Group qualifying round, and the winners progressed to the quarterfinals and were guaranteed a World Group spot for 1999.
Sweden were the defending champions and won their second consecutive title, defeating Italy in the final, 4–1. The final was held at the Forum di Assago in Milan, Italy, from 4 to 6 December. It was the Swedish team's 7th Davis Cup title overall.

## Participating teams

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 | | | | | | | | |

## First round
### Slovakia vs. Sweden

| Slovakia 2 | Incheba Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia 3–5 April 1998 Clay (indoors) | Incheba Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia 3–5 April 1998 Clay (indoors) | Sweden 3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Dominik Hrbatý Magnus Norman 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 4 6 6 4 3 6 6 2   2 Karol Kučera Mikael Tillström 1 6 6 1 6 2 6 4     3 Martin Hromec / Ján Krošlák Magnus Larsson / Mikael Tillström 2 6 3 6 4 6       4 Karol Kučera Magnus Norman 3 6 6 4 3 6 6 3 3 6   5 Dominik Hrbatý Magnus Gustafsson 2 6 7 5 5 7 6$^4$ 7$^7$ ||||

### Germany vs. South Africa

| Germany 5 | Stadthalle Bremen, Bremen, Germany 3–5 April 1998 Carpet (indoors) | Stadthalle Bremen, Bremen, Germany 3–5 April 1998 Carpet (indoors) | South Africa 0 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Nicolas Kiefer Grant Stafford 4 6 4 6 6 1 6 2 6 2   2 Tommy Haas Wayne Ferreira 7$^7$ 6$^2$ 3 6 6 3 6 4     3 Boris Becker / David Prinosil David Adams / Ellis Ferreira 5 7 6 4 6 4 6 3     4 David Prinosil Wayne Ferreira 6 4 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 7$^7$ 6$^4$       5 Tommy Haas Grant Stafford 6 1 7$^7$ 6$^4$ ||||

### Brazil vs. Spain

| Brazil 2 | Moinhos de Vento Park, Porto Alegre, Brazil 3–5 April 1998 Clay | Moinhos de Vento Park, Porto Alegre, Brazil 3–5 April 1998 Clay | Spain 3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Gustavo Kuerten Carlos Moyá 5 7 1 6 6 4 6 4 6 4   2 Fernando Meligeni Àlex Corretja 6 4 4 6 6 3 4 6 4 6   3 Gustavo Kuerten / Jaime Oncins Àlex Corretja / Javier Sánchez 6 1 7 5 3 6 6 2     4 Gustavo Kuerten Àlex Corretja 3 6 5 7 6 4 4 6     5 Fernando Meligeni Carlos Moyá 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 2 6 2 6 ||||

### Switzerland vs. Czech Republic

| Switzerland 3 | Saalsporthalle, Zürich, Switzerland 3–5 April 1998 Carpet (indoors) | Saalsporthalle, Zürich, Switzerland 3–5 April 1998 Carpet (indoors) | Czech Republic 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Ivo Heuberger Bohdan Ulihrach 7$^9$ 6$^7$ 0 6 5 7 2 6     2 Marc Rosset Daniel Vacek 3 6 6 2 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 6 0     3 Lorenzo Manta / Marc Rosset Martin Damm / Daniel Vacek 6 4 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 4 6 6 1 6 4   4 Marc Rosset Bohdan Ulihrach 6 4 7 5 7 5       5 Ivo Heuberger Martin Damm 6$^3$ 7$^7$ 7 5 6$^5$ 7$^7$ ||||

### Italy vs. India

| Italy 4 | Centro Sportivo Valletta Cambiaso, Genova, Italy 3–5 April 1998 Clay | Centro Sportivo Valletta Cambiaso, Genova, Italy 3–5 April 1998 Clay | India 1 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Andrea Gaudenzi Srinath Prahlad 6 0 6 2 1 6 6 2     2 Davide Sanguinetti Mahesh Bhupathi 4 6 4 6 4 6       3 Andrea Gaudenzi / Diego Nargiso Mahesh Bhupathi / Fazaluddin Syed 6 3 6 4 3 6 6 3     4 Andrea Gaudenzi Mahesh Bhupathi 6 1 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 6 1       5 Davide Sanguinetti Srinath Prahlad 6 2 6 3 ||||

### Australia vs. Zimbabwe

| Australia 2 | Mildura Lawn Tennis Club, Mildura, Australia 3–5 April 1998 Grass | Mildura Lawn Tennis Club, Mildura, Australia 3–5 April 1998 Grass | Zimbabwe 3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Jason Stoltenberg Wayne Black 6 3 6 4 5 7 7 5     2 Pat Rafter Byron Black 6 3 3 6 2 6 6$^0$ 7$^7$     3 Todd Woodbridge / Mark Woodforde Byron Black / Wayne Black 6 4 7$^8$ 6$^6$ 6 2       4 Mark Woodforde Wayne Black 3 6 5 7 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 4 6     5 Jason Stoltenberg Byron Black 2 6 6 3 3 6 4 6 ||||

### Belgium vs. Netherlands

| Belgium 3 | Royal Primerose Tennis Club, Brussels, Belgium 3–5 April 1998 Clay | Royal Primerose Tennis Club, Brussels, Belgium 3–5 April 1998 Clay | Netherlands 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Johan Van Herck Jan Siemerink 4 6 3 6 6 4 1 6     2 Filip Dewulf Sjeng Schalken 7 5 6 2 7 5       3 Filip Dewulf / Libor Pimek Jacco Eltingh / Jan Siemerink 1 6 4 6 4 6       4 Filip Dewulf John van Lottum 6 4 6 0 6 4       5 Christophe Van Garsse Sjeng Schalken 6 4 6 4 3 6 3 6 6 3 ||||

### United States vs. Russia

| United States 3 | Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, GA, United States 4–6 April 1998 Hard | Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, GA, United States 4–6 April 1998 Hard | Russia 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Jim Courier Yevgeny Kafelnikov 2 6 7 5 7$^7$ 6$^2$ 4 6 4 6   2 Andre Agassi Marat Safin 6 3 6 3 6 3       3 Todd Martin / Richey Reneberg Yevgeny Kafelnikov / Marat Safin 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 6 1 2 6 6 1     4 Andre Agassi Yevgeny Kafelnikov 3 6 0 6 6$^3$ 7$^7$       5 Jim Courier Marat Safin 0 6 6 4 4 6 6 1 6 4 ||||

## Quarterfinals
### Germany vs. Sweden

| Germany 2 | National Centre, Hamburg, Germany 17–19 July 1998 Hard | National Centre, Hamburg, Germany 17–19 July 1998 Hard | Sweden 3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Tommy Haas Jonas Björkman 6 3 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 7 5       2 Nicolas Kiefer Thomas Enqvist 3 6 3 6 5 7       3 Boris Becker / David Prinosil Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti 6 4 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 4 6     4 Nicolas Kiefer Jonas Björkman 3 6 6 4 2 6 7 5 4 6   5 Tommy Haas Magnus Larsson 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 7 5 6 2 ||||

### Spain vs. Switzerland

| Spain 4 | Club Tenis Coruña, A Coruña, Spain 17–19 July 1998 Clay | Club Tenis Coruña, A Coruña, Spain 17–19 July 1998 Clay | Switzerland 1 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Carlos Moyá Ivo Heuberger 6 1 6 2 6 1       2 Àlex Corretja Marc Rosset 6 1 6 2 6 2       3 Julián Alonso / Javier Sánchez Lorenzo Manta / Marc Rosset 6 3 3 6 4 6 7 5 2 6   4 Carlos Moyá Marc Rosset 7 5 6 1 7 5       5 Àlex Corretja George Bastl 6 0 7 5 ||||

### Italy vs. Zimbabwe

| Italy 5 | Tennis Club Prato, Prato, Italy 17–19 July 1998 Clay | Tennis Club Prato, Prato, Italy 17–19 July 1998 Clay | Zimbabwe 0 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Andrea Gaudenzi Wayne Black 6 3 6 3 6 4       2 Davide Sanguinetti Byron Black 6 3 6 3 6 0       3 Andrea Gaudenzi / Diego Nargiso Byron Black / Wayne Black 1 6 7 5 7 5 6 3     4 Diego Nargiso Genius Chidzikwe 6 0 6 2         5 Davide Sanguinetti Wayne Black 6 4 3 6 6 3 ||||

### United States vs. Belgium

| United States 4 | State Tennis Club, Indianapolis, IN, United States 17–19 July 1998 Hard | State Tennis Club, Indianapolis, IN, United States 17–19 July 1998 Hard | Belgium 1 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Jim Courier Filip Dewulf 6 3 7$^7$ 6$^1$ 2 6 6 3     2 Andre Agassi Christophe Van Garsse 6 2 6 2 6 2       3 Jim Courier / Todd Martin Xavier Malisse / Johan Van Herck 5 7 6 2 6$^2$ 7$^7$ 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 6 1   4 Todd Martin Xavier Malisse 7$^7$ 6$^1$ 6 3         5 Jim Courier Christophe Van Garsse 6 3 1 4       retired ||||

## Semifinals
### Sweden vs. Spain

| Sweden 4 | Kungliga tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden 25–27 September 1998 Carpet (indoors) | Kungliga tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden 25–27 September 1998 Carpet (indoors) | Spain 1 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Jonas Björkman Àlex Corretja 6 3 7 5 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 6 3     2 Thomas Johansson Carlos Moyá 7 5 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 7$^8$ 6$^6$       3 Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti Julián Alonso / Javier Sánchez 6 2 6 2 6 2       4 Jonas Björkman Carlos Moyá 6 3 7 5         5 Thomas Johansson Julián Alonso 1 6 6$^3$ 7$^7$ ||||

### United States vs. Italy

| United States 1 | Wisconsin Center Arena, Milwaukee, WI, United States 25–27 September 1998 Hard (indoors) | Wisconsin Center Arena, Milwaukee, WI, United States 25–27 September 1998 Hard (indoors) | Italy 4 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Jan-Michael Gambill Andrea Gaudenzi 2 6 6 0 6$^0$ 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 7$^7$     2 Todd Martin Davide Sanguinetti 6$^0$ 7$^7$ 3 6 6$^8$ 7$^{10}$       3 Justin Gimelstob / Todd Martin Andrea Gaudenzi / Diego Nargiso 4 6 6$^3$ 7$^7$ 7 5 6 2 3 6   4 Justin Gimelstob Gianluca Pozzi 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 5 7         5 Jan-Michael Gambill Davide Sanguinetti 4 6 6 3 6 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 ||||