Davis Cup provides a unique atmosphere that is unlike anything else you will ever see in tennis. It is more than just the partisan crowds and in-match coaching. Davis Cup is a chance for players to play for their countries in a way that, save the Olympics, doesn’t otherwise exist in this sport. Thus, the emotions can run higher than even at the Grand Slams. Everyone, now matter how desperate their position, will dig as deep as they can to play their best. It is this unique aspect of Davis Cup that allows players to step up and become national heroes in an individual sport.

Any discussion of heroes from this round of Davis Cup play must begin with Fabio Fognini. The Italian is known as a temperamental but incredibly talented player. In Davis Cup, though, it is talent that shines through more often than temperament. Fognini took care of his first rubber against James Ward, but that match seemed academic at the time. After all, Andy Murray was playing three matches last weekend—two singles and the doubles. None of the Italians was expected to defeat Murray, at least in singles.

As expected, Murray defeated Andreas Seppi in his first singles match and led the way to Great Britain’s doubles win, in which Fognini also played. But then Sunday arrived, and Fognini unleashed brilliant tennis. He dominated Murray in a way that would make Nadal or Djokovic proud. It was as impressive a tennis performance as we’ve seen all year. He simply hit Murray off the court, something that rarely happens. Fognini will struggle to sustain that level in the future, but it was incredible to watch—and the type of performance that only Davis Cup can bring out.

Switzerland had a comeback victory as well in their quarterfinal tie, but it is hard to call Roger Federer a hero for beating two players outside the top 50. Andrey Golubev had some heroics of his own, giving Kazakhstan a chance by upsetting Stanislas Wawrinka in the opening rubber. But the tie wasn’t ever seriously in doubt with the Swiss fielding two top-five players.

France’s comeback from 0-2 down also was impressive, but it was wholly expected. Their players were far more talented than their German opponents, who didn’t include Tommy Haas or Philipp Kohlschreiber, so falling into a 0-2 hole was embarrassing. Still, they found their rhythm and managed to avoid a bad upset in their home country.

More heroics unfolded in the lower levels of Davis Cup as players attempted to move their countries closer to the World Group. Winners of Group 1 second-round ties last weekend will have an opportunity to move into the World Group next year by winning a World Group Play-off tie in the fall.

Croatia will have a chance in the World Group Play-off after beating Poland. It was an exciting tie as Marin Cilic won his two singles rubbers, including an incredible five-set win over Jerzy Janowicz. World No. 295 Borna Coric produced the biggest headline, though, when he also upset Janowicz in five sets.

Coric is only 17 and rapidly rising. He is a top junior, and this was his first real experience on a huge professional stage. In that situation, Coric kept his cool and stuck to his game. While Janowicz was far from his best, he did more than enough to beat most players outside the top 100. Keep an eye out for Coric in the future because this weekend suggested that he will be a factor in the ATP someday.

Meanwhile, Wu Di almost single-handedly pulled China into the World Group Play-offs for the first time since 1990. He won a tough five-setter against Furrukh Dustov of Uzbekistan and then, when his country was facing elimination, pulled out an incredible upset of world No. 54 Denis Istomin to force a fifth rubber. China lost that match in another five-setter, but Wu deserves credit for where he has led his country’s team.

Also deserving a mention is Israel, whose players always play well above their usual level in Davis Cup. Amir Weintraub, who struggles to stay in the top 200, played like a top-50 player in his upset of Blaz Kavcic on clay. Weintraub is not widely known, but he probably has one of the top 10 backhands in the ATP when he is hitting it with confidence. He will run around forehands to hit that backhand because it is his more effective groundstroke and a thing of beauty.

Once again, then, Davis Cup offered a broad spectrum of drama with plenty of unlikely heroes.  The competition will return after the US Open with World Group semifinals and World Group Play-offs.