Former champions Great Britain will take on Uzbekistan later this year in the World Group playoffs of the Davis Cup.
The British team, who won the title in 2015, has been relegated to the playoff stage following their 3-1 loss to Spain in February. They learned their fate on Tuesday morning during the official draw ceremony. The outcome of their clash with Uzbekistan means that the Brits will host a tie on home soil for the first time since 2016.
Uzbekistan will go into the tie as the underdogs. After world No.83 Denis Istomin, there is not another player ranked in the top 350 from the country in either singles or doubles competition. Furthermore, the country is yet to progress beyond the playoff stage in the history of the competition.
It will be the first time the two nations have taken on each other in the Davis Cup. A loss will relegate Britain to Group I of the event for the first time since 2013.
🇬🇧 GB @DavisCup Team will face Uzbekistan at home in the World Group Play-Offs! #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/5fsh29906U
— LTA (@the_LTA) April 10, 2018
Elsewhere in the draw, Austria will host Australia, Serbia will take on India and Argentina is set for a all South American clash against Colombia. A total of five teams participating in this year’s playoffs has previously won the title since 2010. Serbia (2010), The Czech republic (2012 and 2013), Switzerland (2014), Britain (2015) and Argentina (2016).
The venues of where the ties will be held is yet to be confirmed. All of the meetings will take place on 14-16 September.
During the same weekend the semifinals of the competition will take place. France will take on Spain and Croatia faces America.
Full draw
Japan Vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (in Japan)
The Czech Republic Vs Hungary (in Hungary)
Canada Vs The Netherlands (in Canada)
Serbia Vs India (in Serbia)
Switzerland Vs Sweden (in Switzerland)
Australia Vs Austria (in Austria)
Great Britain Vs Uzbekistan (in Great Britain)
Argentina Vs Colombia (in Argentina)
