Spain will host Great Britain in the first round of the 2018 Davis Cup, while this year’s finalists France and Belgium were drawn against the Netherlands and Hungary respectively on Wednesday.
Australia, beaten 3-2 by Belgium in last weekend’s semi-final, will start next year’s campaign at home to Germany with the United States, the record 32-time champions, travelling to Serbia.
Switzerland will play Kazakhstan, while Canada will take on Croatia. Lastly, Japan and Italy will clash against each other.
The opening round will be held February 2-4, just a week after the conclusion of the 2018 Australian Open in Melbourne.
World No 1 Rafael Nadal, a four-time Davis Cup champion with Spain in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011, could line up against Andy Murray, the man he replaced at the top of the rankings last month.
Murray, who is likely to miss the rest of the season due to a nagging hip injury, helped Britain end a 79-year title drought when they beat Belgium to lift the trophy in 2015.
The participation of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland remains to be seen after the pair were also forced to cut short their campaigns due to injury.
Roger Federer, who teamed up with Wawrinka to win the 2014 Davis Cup, last played in the event in a World Group play-off tie in September 2015.
France host Belgium in this year’s final in Lille from November 24-26.
India’s prospects
The Indian team will play in Asia/Oceania Group I after having lost the World Group Play-off to Canada in September. The Indian team is the top-seeded team in Group I and has been awarded a bye in the first round.
In the second round tie to be played from April 6-8, India will play the winner between China and New Zealand.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!