The inaugural edition of the tournament was contested in 1975 in Kingston, Jamaica and was called the Nations Cup.

It was generally considered to be second most prestigious men's team competition in tennis after the Davis Cup.

The event was generally regarded as the sports highlight of the social scene in the Düsseldorf area.

[3] After ARAG discontinued sponsorship for the event and organizers failed to find a new sponsor, the 2011 edition of the tournament was initially cancelled.

Presented since 1989, the Fair Play Trophy was awarded by an international jury of tennis journalists and the captains of the competing nations.