<P> Dead rubber is a term used in sporting parlance to describe a match in a series where the series result has already been decided by earlier matches . The dead rubber match therefore has no effect on the winner and loser of the series, other than the total number of matches won and lost . </P> <P> The term is used in Davis Cup and Fed Cup tennis, as well as in international cricket, field hockey, the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League and Rugby World Cup . </P> <P> For example, in a Davis Cup series, each pair of competing countries play five matches (rubbers) where the winner is decided on a best - of - five basis . Once one team has reached three victories, the remaining match or matches are said to be dead rubbers . International Tennis Federation's last revision of the competition policies on dead rubbers is from 2011 . </P> <P> Since the result of a dead rubber has no impact in determining the winner of a series, dead rubbers are typically played in a less intense atmosphere, often allowing the team that has lost the series to obtain a match win . Sometimes, second - string players who have not played many matches in top - level competition are given the opportunity to play a dead rubber in order to gain experience . This practice makes completing a clean sweep of a series less likely . </P>

Where does the term dead rubber come from