# 1996 Davis Cup World Group

The World Group was the highest level of Davis Cup competition in 1996. 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 1997.
The United States were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
France won the title, defeating Sweden in the final, 3–2. The final was held at the Malmö Isstadion in Malmö, Sweden, from 29 November to 1 December. It was the French team's 8th Davis Cup title overall.

## Participating teams

Participating teams :
| Austria | Belgium | Czech Republic | Denmark |
| France | Germany | Hungary | India |
| Italy | Mexico | Netherlands | Russia |
| South Africa | Sweden | Switzerland | United States |

## Draw

| First round 9–11 February | First round 9–11 February | First round 9–11 February | Quarterfinals 5–7 April | Quarterfinals 5–7 April | Quarterfinals 5–7 April | Semifinals 20–22 September | Semifinals 20–22 September | Semifinals 20–22 September | Final 29 November–1 December | Final 29 November–1 December | Final 29 November–1 December |
| Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | | | | | | | | | |
| Russia | Russia | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Russia | Russia | 2 | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | | | | | | |
| Italy | Italy | 3 | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | Rome, Italy (clay) | | | | | | |
| Italy | Italy | 3 | Italy | Italy | 4 | | | | | | |
| Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Italy | Italy | 4 | | | | | | |
| Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | Johannesburg, South Africa (indoor hard) | South Africa | South Africa | 1 | | | | | | |
| Austria | Austria | 2 | South Africa | South Africa | 1 | | | | | | |
| Austria | Austria | 2 | | | | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | | | |
| South Africa | South Africa | 3 | | | | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | Nantes, France (indoor carpet) | | | |
| South Africa | South Africa | 3 | | | | Italy | Italy | 2 | | | |
| Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | | | | Italy | Italy | 2 | | | |
| Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | Geneva, Switzerland (indoor clay) | | | | France | France | 3 | | | |
| Germany | Germany | 5 | | | | France | France | 3 | | | |
| Germany | Germany | 5 | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | | | | | | |
| Switzerland | Switzerland | 0 | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | Limoges, France (indoor clay) | | | | | | |
| Switzerland | Switzerland | 0 | Germany | Germany | 0 | | | | | | |
| Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Germany | Germany | 0 | | | | | | |
| Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | Besançon, France (indoor hard) | France | France | 5 | | | | | | |
| France | France | 5 | France | France | 5 | | | | | | |
| France | France | 5 | | | | | | | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) |
| Denmark | Denmark | 0 | | | | | | | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) | Malmö, Sweden (indoor hard) |
| Denmark | Denmark | 0 | | | | | | | France | France | 3 |
| Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | | | | | | | France | France | 3 |
| Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | Jaipur, India (grass) | | | | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 2 |
| India | India | 3 | | | | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 2 |
| India | India | 3 | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | | | | | | |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | 2 | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | Calcutta, India (grass) | | | | | | |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | 2 | India | India | 0 | | | | | | |
| Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | India | India | 0 | | | | | | |
| Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Katrineholm, Sweden (indoor carpet) | Sweden | Sweden | 5 | | | | | | |
| Belgium | Belgium | 1 | Sweden | Sweden | 5 | | | | | | |
| Belgium | Belgium | 1 | | | | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | |
| Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | |
| Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | Sweden | Sweden | 4 | | | |
| Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Plzeň, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | Czech Republic | 1 | |
| Hungary | Hungary | 0 | | | | Czech Republic | 1 | |
| Hungary | Hungary | 0 | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | | |
| Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 5 | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | Prague, Czech Republic (indoor carpet) | | | | | |
| Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 5 | Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 3 | | | | | |
| Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 3 | | | | | |
| Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) | United States | United States | 2 | | | | | |
| Mexico | Mexico | 0 | United States | United States | 2 | | | | | |
| United States | United States | 5 | | | | | | | | |

## First round
### Italy vs. Russia

| Italy 3 | Foro Italico, Rome, Italy 9–11 February 1996 Clay | Foro Italico, Rome, Italy 9–11 February 1996 Clay | Russia 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Andrea Gaudenzi Andrei Chesnokov 2 6 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 6 3 6 1   2 Renzo Furlan Yevgeny Kafelnikov 3 6 7 5 4 6 3 6     3 Andrea Gaudenzi / Diego Nargiso Yevgeny Kafelnikov / Andrei Olhovskiy 6 4 2 6 5 7 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 6 4   4 Andrea Gaudenzi Yevgeny Kafelnikov 3 6 6 3 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 5 7     5 Renzo Furlan Andrei Chesnokov 6 0 3 6 6 3 7 5 ||||

### South Africa vs. Austria

| South Africa 3 | Wanderers Club, Johannesburg, South Africa 9–12 February 1996 Grass | Wanderers Club, Johannesburg, South Africa 9–12 February 1996 Grass | Austria 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Marcos Ondruska Thomas Muster 2 6 5 7 2 6       2 Wayne Ferreira Wolfgang Schranz 6 1 7$^7$ 6$^2$ 6 4       3 Wayne Ferreira / Gary Muller Alex Antonitsch / Thomas Muster 6 3 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 3 6 6 3   4 Wayne Ferreira Thomas Muster 5 7 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 4 6 6$^4$ 7$^7$     5 Marcos Ondruska Gilbert Schaller 6 3 6 4 6 2 ||||

### Switzerland vs. Germany

| Switzerland 0 | Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland 9–11 February 1996 Clay (indoors) | Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland 9–11 February 1996 Clay (indoors) | Germany 5 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Jakob Hlasek David Prinosil 4 6 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 7 5 6 4 1 6   2 Marc Rosset Hendrik Dreekmann 3 6 1 6 4 6       3 Jakob Hlasek / Alexandre Strambini David Prinosil / Michael Stich 2 6 5 7 2 6       4 Alexandre Strambini David Prinosil 3 6 3 6         5 Jakob Hlasek Hendrik Dreekmann 4 6 4 6 ||||

### France vs. Denmark

| France 5 | Palais des Sports, Besançon, France 9–11 February 1996 Hard (indoors) | Palais des Sports, Besançon, France 9–11 February 1996 Hard (indoors) | Denmark 0 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Guy Forget Kenneth Carlsen 6 4 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 5 7 7$^9$ 6$^7$     2 Cédric Pioline Frederik Fetterlein 4 6 6 1 6 1 6 3     3 Guy Forget / Guillaume Raoux Kenneth Carlsen / Frederik Fetterlein 4 6 6 3 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 6 3     4 Cédric Pioline Kenneth Carlsen 7 5 6 4         5 Guillaume Raoux Frederik Fetterlein 6 3 6 4 ||||

### India vs. Netherlands

| India 3 | Jai Tennis Club, Jaipur, India 9–11 February 1996 Grass | Jai Tennis Club, Jaipur, India 9–11 February 1996 Grass | Netherlands 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Leander Paes Jacco Eltingh 4 6 5 7 4 6       2 Mahesh Bhupathi Jan Siemerink 6 4 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 4 6 4 6 6 4   3 Mahesh Bhupathi / Leander Paes Jacco Eltingh / Paul Haarhuis 6 3 2 6 6$^3$ 7$^7$ 4 6     4 Leander Paes Jan Siemerink 7$^7$ 6$^2$ 2 6 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 7$^7$ 6$^5$     5 Mahesh Bhupathi Jacco Eltingh 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 4 6 7 5 2 1    retired ||||

### Sweden vs. Belgium

| Sweden 4 | Duveholmshallen, Katrineholm, Sweden 9–11 February 1996 Carpet (indoors) | Duveholmshallen, Katrineholm, Sweden 9–11 February 1996 Carpet (indoors) | Belgium 1 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Magnus Larsson Filip Dewulf 6 3 7 5 7$^7$ 6$^4$       2 Thomas Enqvist Dick Norman 6 4 6 3 6 1       3 Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti Filip Dewulf / Dick Norman 6 3 6 1 6 4       4 Thomas Enqvist Johan Van Herck 5 7 2 6         5 Magnus Larsson Dick Norman 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 6 4 ||||

### Czech Republic vs. Hungary

| Czech Republic 5 | Lokomotíva hala, Plzeň, Czech Republic 9–11 February 1996 Carpet (indoors) | Lokomotíva hala, Plzeň, Czech Republic 9–11 February 1996 Carpet (indoors) | Hungary 0 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Daniel Vacek József Krocskó 6 3 6 3 6 4       2 Petr Korda Sándor Noszály 6 2 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 6 3       3 Cyril Suk / Daniel Vacek Gábor Köves / Sándor Noszály 6$^2$ 7$^7$ 6$^7$ 7$^9$ 7$^9$ 6$^7$ 6 4 6 4   4 Daniel Vacek Sándor Noszály 7 5 6 3         5 Jiří Novák József Krocskó 5 7 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 6 0 ||||

### United States vs. Mexico

| United States 5 | La Costa Resort Hotel, Carlsbad, CA, United States 9–11 February 1996 Hard | La Costa Resort Hotel, Carlsbad, CA, United States 9–11 February 1996 Hard | Mexico 0 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Michael Chang Leonardo Lavalle 6 1 6 2 6 4       2 Todd Martin Alejandro Hernández 6 3 6 3 6 0       3 Patrick Galbraith / Patrick McEnroe Leonardo Lavalle / Óscar Ortiz 7$^9$ 6$^7$ 6 4 6 3       4 Michael Chang Alejandro Hernández 6 0 6 2         5 Todd Martin Leonardo Lavalle 3 6 7$^7$ 6$^1$ 6 4 ||||

## Quarterfinals
### Italy vs. South Africa

| Italy 4 | Foro Italico, Rome, Italy 5–7 April 1996 Clay | Foro Italico, Rome, Italy 5–7 April 1996 Clay | South Africa 1 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Renzo Furlan Marcos Ondruska 4 6 4 6 4 6       2 Andrea Gaudenzi Wayne Ferreira 5 7 6 3 2 6 7 5 6 1   3 Andrea Gaudenzi / Diego Nargiso Ellis Ferreira / Wayne Ferreira 5 7 3 6 6 3 7$^9$ 6$^7$ 6 2   4 Renzo Furlan Wayne Ferreira 3 6 6 0 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 6 2     5 Andrea Gaudenzi Marcos Ondruska 6 1 1 1        retired ||||

### France vs. Germany

| France 5 | Palais des Sports de Beaublanc, Limoges, France 5–7 April 1996 Clay (indoors) | Palais des Sports de Beaublanc, Limoges, France 5–7 April 1996 Clay (indoors) | Germany 0 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Cédric Pioline David Prinosil 6 0 6$^6$ 7$^8$ 6 4 6 3     2 Arnaud Boetsch Hendrik Dreekmann 4 6 6 4 3 6 7$^7$ 6$^2$ 6 3   3 Arnaud Boetsch / Guy Forget Boris Becker / Marc-Kevin Goellner 7$^8$ 6$^6$ 6 4 7$^9$ 6$^7$       4 Guy Forget David Prinosil 6 3 0 6 6 4       5 Cédric Pioline Hendrik Dreekmann 6 4 6 3 ||||

### India vs. Sweden

| India 0 | Calcutta South Club, Calcutta, India 5–7 April 1996 Grass | Calcutta South Club, Calcutta, India 5–7 April 1996 Grass | Sweden 5 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Leander Paes Jonas Björkman 6 1 4 6 7 5 3 6 5 7   2 Mahesh Bhupathi Thomas Enqvist 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 6$^3$ 7$^7$ 1 6 1 6     3 Mahesh Bhupathi / Leander Paes Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 3 6 4 6 1 6     4 Leander Paes Nicklas Kulti 3 6 7$^7$ 6$^4$ 6$^6$ 7$^8$       5 Mahesh Bhupathi Jonas Björkman 2 6 4 6 ||||

### Czech Republic vs. United States

| Czech Republic 3 | Sportovní hala Sparta, Prague, Czech Republic 5–7 April 1996 Carpet (indoors) | Sportovní hala Sparta, Prague, Czech Republic 5–7 April 1996 Carpet (indoors) | United States 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Petr Korda Todd Martin 2 6 4 6 5 7       2 Daniel Vacek MaliVai Washington 4 6 6 3 6 4 5 7 6 4   3 Petr Korda / Daniel Vacek Patrick Galbraith / Patrick McEnroe 6 2 6 3 6 3       4 Daniel Vacek Todd Martin 6$^1$ 7$^7$ 3 6 1 6       5 Petr Korda MaliVai Washington 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 6 3 6 2 ||||

## Semifinals
### France vs. Italy

| France 3 | Palais des Sports de Beaulieu, Nantes, France 20–22 September 1996 Carpet (indoors) | Palais des Sports de Beaulieu, Nantes, France 20–22 September 1996 Carpet (indoors) | Italy 2 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Cédric Pioline Andrea Gaudenzi 7 5 1 6 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 3 6     2 Arnaud Boetsch Renzo Furlan 5 7 6 1 3 6 6$^5$ 7$^7$     3 Guy Forget / Guillaume Raoux Andrea Gaudenzi / Diego Nargiso 6 3 6 4 6 2       4 Cédric Pioline Renzo Furlan 6 3 2 6 6 2 6 4     5 Arnaud Boetsch Andrea Gaudenzi 6 4 6 2 7$^{10}$ 6$^8$ ||||

### Czech Republic vs. Sweden

| Czech Republic 1 | Sportovní hala Sparta, Prague, Czech Republic 22–24 September 1995 Clay (indoors) | Sportovní hala Sparta, Prague, Czech Republic 22–24 September 1995 Clay (indoors) | Sweden 4 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Petr Korda Thomas Enqvist 4 6 3 6 6$^9$ 7$^{11}$       2 Daniel Vacek Stefan Edberg 6$^2$ 7$^7$ 5 7 6 4 3 6     3 Petr Korda / Daniel Vacek Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti 4 6 6 3 6 4 6 4     4 Daniel Vacek Thomas Enqvist 3 6 7$^7$ 6$^3$ 6 4 5 7 3 6   5 Petr Korda Stefan Edberg 6 4 2 6 5 7 ||||

## Final
### Sweden vs. France

| Sweden 2 | Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden 29 November–1 December 1996 Hard (indoors) | Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden 29 November–1 December 1996 Hard (indoors) | France 3 |
| 1 2 3 4 5 1 Stefan Edberg Cédric Pioline 3 6 4 6 3 6       2 Thomas Enqvist Arnaud Boetsch 6 4 6 3 7$^7$ 6$^2$       3 Jonas Björkman / Nicklas Kulti Guy Forget / Guillaume Raoux 3 6 6 1 3 6 3 6     4 Thomas Enqvist Cédric Pioline 3 6 6$^8$ 7$^{10}$ 6 4 6 4 9 7   5 Nicklas Kulti Arnaud Boetsch 6$^2$ 7$^7$ 6 2 6 4 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 8 10 ||||