On the occasion of the Davis Cup, scheduled to take place at the Unipol Arena in Casalecchio di Reno from 10 to 15 September, Galleria Cavour 1959 will become a point of reference for tennis fans and enthusiasts, with an exhibition dedicated to the competition. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the history of the tournament, in a space designed to celebrate the champions and emotions of Davis. The exhibition will be open during the days of the competition and will be a true tribute to tradition and sporting passion.
The history of the Davis Cup
The idea of the Davis Cup was born in 1900, thanks to Dwight Filley Davis, a young doubles tennis player who won the US National Championships paired with Holcombe Ward. A student at Harvard at the time, Davis, along with three other university classmates, formed the first US national team to participate in the inaugural competition. It was he who commissioned the trophy, which was made by Boston jewellers Shreve, Crump and Low.
The trophy, nicknamed the ‘salad bowl’ because of its floral decoration reminiscent of a salad bowl, has grown in size and prestige over time. The original version, a 45 cm high silver bowl, has been enlarged by the addition of three pedestals, measuring 110 cm in height and 107 cm in diameter, with an impressive weight of 105 kilograms. Initially, the names of the winning nations were engraved directly on the cup from 1900 to 1919. From 1920, with the addition of a silver tray created by Black, Starr and Frost, the names of the champions were engraved there, until 1932. Later, further layers of silver were added to the base, most recently in 2003, with Australia’s triumph.
