Belarus haven’t played a Davis Cup tie since 2021 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The team was once one of the best in the competition and enjoyed great success in the early 2000s, thanks to Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov.
Both players won 24 singles matches, driving Belarus to several deep runs at the Davis Cup.
Belarus enjoyed their best-ever Davis Cup run in 2004, reaching the semifinals, where they met the United States.
During an exclusive interview with The Tennis Gazette, Voltchkov reflected upon his memorable Davis Cup campaign 21 years ago and claimed his efforts played a role in the success of world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Vladimir Voltchkov thinks Belarus’ 2004 Davis Cup run inspired Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka
The 47-year-old is proud of his efforts at the Davis Cup, bringing the small nation of Belarus to the brink of glory.
“It felt magnificent and it felt very special,” said Voltchkov.
“The best part of it was that the first two matches to get into the semifinals were played at home.
“We successfully beat Russia and then Argentina, and they are known tennis powerhouses.
2004 Davis Cup 1R – Belarus vs Russia
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 1 | Igor Andreev (Russia) | Vladimir Voltchkov (Belarus) | Belarus (0-1) Russia |
| 2 | Max Mirnyi (Belarus) | Marat Safin (Russia) | Belarus (1-1) Russia |
| 3 | Marat Safin/Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) | Max Mirnyi/Alexander Shvets (Belarus) | Belarus (1-2) Russia |
| 4 | Max Mirnyi (Belarus) | Igor Andreev (Russia) | Belarus (2-2) Russia |
| 5 | Vladimir Voltchkov (Belarus) | Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) | Belarus (3-1) Russia |
2004 Davis Cup QF – Belarus vs Argentina
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 1 | Vladimir Voltchkov (Belarus) | Agustin Calleri (Argentina) | Belarus (1-0) Argentina |
| 2 | Max Mirnyi (Belarus) | Guillermo Canas (Argentina) | Belarus (2-0) Argentina |
| 3 | Max Mirnyi/Vladimir Voltchkov (Belarus) | Lucas Arnold Ker/Agustin Calleri (Argentina) | Belarus (3-0) Argentina |
| 4 | Max Mirnyi (Belarus) | Lucas Arnold Ker (Argentina) | Belarus (4-0) Argentina |
| 5 | Vladimir Voltchkov (Belarus) | Juan Monaco (Argentina) | Belarus (5-0) Argentina |
“At that time, it was just me and Max Mirnyi in the team; the number three and number four were usually just guys who were lucky to be in the team.
“So basically we had to do 99% of the job.
“Playing Russia, for example, where you had Marat Safin coming back from winning the Australian Open, you have [Mikhail] Youzhny, you have [Nikolay] Davydenko, you have [Igor] Andreev, overcoming these kinds of teams, at home, in our small country, but in a pretty big indoor stadium, it felt very special.”
Belarus did, however, fail in their bid to reach the final, losing to the United States in Charleston.
2004 Davis Cup SF – Belarus vs USA
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 1 | Andy Roddick (USA) | Vladimir Voltchkov (Belarus) | Belarus (0-1) USA |
| 2 | Mardy Fish (USA) | Max Mirnyi (Belarus) | Belarus (0-2) USA |
| 3 | Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) | Max Mirnyi/Vladimir Voltchkov (Belarus) | Belarus (0-3) USA |
| 4 | Andy Roddick (USA) | Alexander Skrypko (Belarus) | Belarus (0-4) USA |
| 5 (Not completed) | – | – | Belarus (0-4) USA |
After losing to the USA, Belarus bounced back, picking up several big wins over the next few years.
“Also in the next couple of years, we beat Spain and played some great matches back at home,” said Voltchkov.
“I have to say those Davis Cup matches made us home heroes, me and Max.”
Will you still be watching the Davis Cup without Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner this year?
Voltchkov strongly believes that his and Mirnyi’s performances at the Davis Cup helped lay the foundations for the Grand Slam success of Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka.
“I believe that those matches laid the stronger basis and fundamentals for the other generations growing up in Belarus,” he said.
“I’m sure that part of [Victoria] Azarenka’s success, [Aryna] Sabalenka, [Aliaskandra] Sasnovich, all those players that came after, is because they grew up watching Max and I on TV playing Wimbledon, playing for the country, and actually building a psychological bridge between where they were at that time…
“If you see these guys who have made it, they might ask themselves, ‘Maybe I can make it too’, especially now in my coaching career, I understand how important it is.”
21 years after Voltchkov and Mirnyi impressed at the Davis Cup, their fellow Belarusian is ranked number one in the world, and continues to add to her Grand Slam tally.
Aryna Sabalenka is the best women’s player in the world
The Belarusian star has arguably been the most consistent player at major tournaments across men’s and women’s tennis over the last few years.
Sabalenka has qualified for at least the quarterfinals in each of the last 12 Grand Slams she’s played.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Grand Slam streak
- 2022 US Open – SF
- 2023 Australian Open – W
- 2023 French Open – SF
- 2023 Wimbledon – SF
- 2023 US Open – F
- 2024 Australian Open – W
- 2024 French Open – QF
- 2024 US Open – W
- 2025 Australian Open – F
- 2025 French Open – F
- 2025 Wimbledon – SF
- 2025 US Open – W
Now a four-time Grand Slam champion, Sabalenka looks well-positioned to add to her tally in the new year.
How many Grand Slam titles do you think Aryna Sabalenka will win in 2026?
Only time will tell if Sabalenka can win her fifth Grand Slam in 2026, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2026 Grand Slam season kicks off in January, as Sabalenka heads to Melbourne for the Australian Open, which begins on Monday, January 12.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
