Australia's record in the Davis Cup is a proud one, with 28 victories in the world's premier men's team tennis competition stretching back over 116 years.
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But you have to go back to over 80 years ago, between the two World Wars, to find anything similar to the two-decade title drought that Lleyton Hewitt's team is trying to end on Sunday (Monday AEDT) in Malaga.
The last time Australia won in Melbourne 20 years ago, Hewitt himself was the playing spearhead when the Cup was still in its heyday of no neutral venues, best-of-five-rubber finals and five-set contests that he so loved.
In the newer, week-long format at a neutral venue, featuring best-of-three-rubber knock-out ties, the nearest they've come was last year's Malaga final when they were blown away by Canada.
FACTS AND FIGURES OF THE 2023 AUSTRALIA-ITALY DAVIS CUP FINAL
*The 13th Davis Cup meeting between the two nations sees them meet in a final for the fourth time, with Australia having won the other finals in 1960, 1961 and 1977.
*Australia can close the gap on 32-times winners USA by lifting a 29th crown and their first since 2003. It's their 49th final and second in consecutive years.
*Italy have only ever won one final in 1976.
*Australia lead Italy 8-4 in their Davis Cup ties.
*Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt won 59 Davis Cup rubbers, while losing 21, for Australia. He holds the Australian Davis Cup records for most total match wins, most singles match wins and most ties played.
AUSTRALIA'S 28 DAVIS CUP WINS - THE ROLL OF HONOUR
2003 (Melbourne) - beat Spain 3-1 (Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Todd Woodbridge, Wayne Arthurs)
1999 (Nice) - beat France 3-2 (Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Todd Woodbridge, Mark Woodforde)
1986 (Melbourne) - beat Sweden 3-2 (Pat Cash, Paul McNamee, John Fitzgerald)
1983 (Melbourne) - beat Sweden 3-2 (Pat Cash, John Fitzgerald, Paul McNamee, Mark Edmondson)
1977 (Sydney) - beat Italy 3-1 (Tony Roche, John Alexander, Phil Dent)
1973 (Cleveland) - beat USA 5-0 (John Newcombe, Rod Laver)
1967 (Brisbane) - beat Spain 4-1 (Roy Emerson, John Newcombe, Tony Roche)
1966 (Melbourne) - beat India 4-1 (Fred Stolle, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe, Tony Roche)
1965 (Sydney) - beat Spain 4-1 (Fred Stolle, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe, Tony Roche)
1964 (Cleveland) - beat USA 3-2 (Fred Stolle, Roy Emerson)
1962 (Brisbane) - beat Mexico 5-0 (Rod Laver, Neale Fraser, Roy Emerson)
1961 (Melbourne) - beat Italy 5-0 (Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Neale Fraser)
1960 (Sydney) - beat Italy 4-1 (Neale Fraser, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson)
1959 (New York) - beat USA 3-2 (Neale Fraser, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson)
1957 (Melbourne) - beat USA 3-2 (Mal Anderson, Ashley Cooper, Mervyn Rose)
1956 (Adelaide) - beat USA 5-0 (Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall)
1955 (New York) - beat USA 5-0 (Ken Rosewall, Rex Hartwig, Lew Hoad)
1953 (Melbourne) - beat USA 3-2 (Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Rex Hartwig)
1952 (Adelaide) - beat USA 4-1 (Frank Sedgman, Ken McGregor)
1951 (Sydney) - beat USA 3-2 (Mervyn Rose, Frank Sedgman, Ken McGregor)
1950 (New York) - beat USA 4-1 (Frank Sedgman, Ken McGregor, John Bromwich)
1939 (Haverford, US) - beat USA 3-2 (John Bromwich, Adrian Quist)
1919 (Sydney) - beat Great Britain 4-1 (James Anderson, Gerald Patterson, Norman Brookes)
1914 (New York) - beat USA 3-2 (Norman Brookes, Anthony Wilding
1911 (Christchurch) - beat USA 4-0 (Norman Brookes, Rodney Heath, Alfred Dunlop)
1909 (Sydney) - beat USA 5-0 (Norman Brookes, Anthony Wilding)
1908 (Melbourne) - beat USA 3-2 (Norman Brookes, Anthony Wilding)
1907 (London) - beat British Isles 3-2 (Norman Brookes, Anthony Wilding)
Australian Associated Press