USA to host Britain

 

Originally published on: 18/09/13 00:00

Great Britain face a tough trip across the Atlantic for their first tie in the top tier of team tennis since 2008. Leon Smith’s side booked their spot in Wednesday’s World Group draw with a 4-1 victory over Croatia last weekend but a trip west to take on the most decorated nation in Davis Cup history will pose an entirely differently threat.

Great Britain and the USA contested the first ever Davis Cup tie back in 1900 and when they lock horns next January it will the 19th meeting between the two Grand Slam nations with the USA having won 11. The last time the two sides met it was the North Americans that came out on the right side of a 3-2 victory on British soil when Jim Courier outlasted Greg Rusedski in a five-set thriller in the decisive fifth rubber.

Courier, now the captain of the US team, is looking forward to the clash. "Great Britain will be a challenging and exciting opponent for us,” said the former world No.1. “It's going to be memorable to have the two original Davis Cup nations face off again.”

The top 16 tennis nations in the world were in the pot during Wednesday’s draw in London, which produced some mouth-watering ties.

Novak Djokovic’s Serbia will host Switzerland, who will hope to have both Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka at his disposal.

Defending champions Czech Republic, who have already booked their place in this year’s final, host the Netherlands while Canada, the big story of 2012, will travel to Japan.

Five-time champions Spain face a tricky away tie in Germany and the two other Grand Slam nations, France and Australia, will battle it out on French soil.

Elsewhere, Argentina host Italy while Belgium travel to Kazakhstan.

Davis Cup World Group 2014 First Round

Czech Republic v Netherlands
Japan v Canada
Germany v Spain
France v Australia
USA v Great Britain
Argentina v Italy
Kazakhstan v Belgium
Serbia v Switzerland

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