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Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup: tennis by nation
The two competitions where tennis stops being individual, how they work, and where Puerto Rico fits.
Tennis is an individual sport except in two competitions, where suddenly you play for a country with a bench behind you.
Davis Cup
The men's national team competition and one of the oldest events in sport: played since 1900. Countries compete in ties, grouped into tiers, with promotion and relegation between groups.
A traditional tie is decided over several singles matches and one doubles. The format has changed several times in recent years, but the essence is the same: the country wins, not the player.
Billie Jean King Cup
The equivalent women's competition, formerly known as the Fed Cup. It carries the name of Billie Jean King, one of the most influential figures in the sport's history, on and off the court.
Where Puerto Rico fits
Puerto Rico competes with its own team in both, as it does at the Olympics. It has its own national tennis federation and its own player rankings.
For an island player, representing Puerto Rico in these competitions is the ceiling of national tennis, and it works as a goal for juniors coming through the local circuit.
Why it plays differently
Team tennis changes a player's head. There is a bench, a coach talking to you between points, and a country watching. Many players perform above their usual level, and others below: the pressure is of a different kind.