U.S. to Face Andy Murray and Great Britain in 2014 Davis Cup Play
The draw for the 2014 Davis Cup World Group was held in London on Wednesday, and the 32-time titlist United States will host nine-time winner Great Britain, led by Andy Murray. The two nations met in the inaugural Davis Cup tie in August 1900. Serbia, the 2010 Davis Cup champion, was drawn to meet Switzerland, which could pit world number one Novak Djokovic against Roger Federer, from Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2014.
“Great Britain will be a challenging and exciting opponent for us,” said Captain Jim Courier. “It’s going to memorable to have the two original Davis Cup nations face off again for the first time since the competition’s Centennial Celebration in 1999.”
The U.S. last faced Great Britain in the 1999 World Group First Round in Birmingham, England. The United States won that tie, 3-2, when current U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier rallied in the fifth and decisive match to defeat Greg Rusedski in the fifth set, 8-6. Courier also won a five-set match on the opening day of that tie, defeating Tim Henman in four-hours and 12-minutes.
The United States-Great Britain rivalry is the oldest rivalry in Davis Cup history, dating back to the first competition. The U.S. holds an 11-7 record against Great Britain in Davis Cup play, winning the last four ties. Great Britain’s last win in the series came in 1935. The 1999 first round tie was the only meeting between the two nations under the current World Group format.
Nine-time champion France is set to challenge Australia, the 28-time titlist, while world number two-ranked Rafael Nadal may play for Spain in its away tie against Germany. Defending champion, the Czech Republic, which faces Serbia in the 2013 final from Nov. 15-17, 2013, plays The Netherlands in the 2014 first round.
World Group First Round Ties
Host nation listed first
â–ºCzech Republic vs. Netherlands
â–ºJapan vs. Canada
â–ºGermany vs. Spain
â–ºFrance vs. Australia
â–ºUnited States vs. Great Britain
â–ºArgentina vs. Italy
â–ºKazakhstan vs. Belgium
â–ºSerbia vs. Switzerland
