• Davis Cup

Great Britain to face USA in Davis Cup

Andy Murray returned after a two-year absence to help Great Britain beat Croatia and reach the World Group © AP

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Great Britain will travel to the United States for the first round of the Davis Cup World Group in 2014, the first time the founder nations of the competition have been drawn together this century.

Great Britain have returned to the 16-team World Group after an absence that dates back to 2008, when back-to-back defeats by Argentina and Austria sparked a slump to the Euro-Africa Zone Group II that reached its nadir when the founding nation found itself in a relegation play-off against Turkey in 2010.

Since Leon Smith's arrival the side have lost just one of their eight ties, reaching the World Group once more courtesy of a 4-1 win over Croatia at the weekend, a match that marked world No. 3 Andy Murray's return to the side after a two-year absence.

Great Britain last faced the United States in 1999, when Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski went down 3-2 to Jim Courier, Todd Martin and Alex O'Brien in a tie that remained in the balance until Rusedski fell to Courier 8-6 in the fifth set of the final rubber. The US holds an 11-7 head-to-head record over Great Britain since winning the inaugural Davis Cup encounter in 1900.

The current United States team features Sam Querrey and John Isner alongside doubles world No. 1 duo Bob and Mike Bryan, while Smith will hope Murray will anchor the team alongside Dan Evans, James Ward, Colin Fleming and Jonny Marray.

Reigning champions the Czech Republic, who take on Serbia in the 2013 Davis Cup final, will face the Netherlands in the first round, while there is the prospect of a showdown between world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer when Switzerland travel to Serbia.

France will play host to Australia, meaning all four grand slam host nations have been drawn against one another, while Spain will travel to Germany, Argentina will host Italy, Kazakhstan will welcome Belgium and beaten semi-finalists Canada face a trip to Japan.

The ties will take place on January 31-Feburary 2.

Davis Cup World Group 2014 first round draw

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