The 2014 Davis Cup will feature several interesting match ups right in the first rounds, including a showdown between old tennis rivals United States and Great Britain. The 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and world's no. 1 Novak Djokovic could also face each other when Switzerland travels to Serbia in January.
The Davis World Group first-round ties are all set after Wednesday's draw in London. Great Britain, nine-time Davis Cup champion, is scheduled to test the United States men's tennis team in their Jan. 31-Feb. 2 World Group tie.
It will mark the first time Great Britain plays in the elite level of Davis Cup competition in 5 years, thanks to the return of Andy Murray. On the other hand, the American looks to advance deeper into the tournament after failing to reach the finals since 2007.
"Great Britain will be a challenging and exciting opponent for us," U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier told BBC News on Wednesday. "It's going to be memorable to have the two original Davis Cup nations face off again for the first time since the competition's Centennial Celebration in 1999."
Great Britain and United States are the tournament's oldest rivals, with their first ever Davis Cup confrontations taking place way back in 1990. The two teams went into different directions since then, as Great Britain failed to win another Davis Cup titles since 1932, while the United States went on to become the tourney's most successful team with 32 Davis Cup titles.
Despite the underdog tag, Great Britain is unfazed of the challenge from the formidable United States squad after going through the eye of needle on their way to World Group qualification.
"I think I can speak on behalf of the players and the staff that this tournament is like no other. The great thing about the Davis Cup is that it's a team effort which requires everyone to play their part. When we faced Russia in April we were classed as the underdog, but Jonny Marray did well and Andy came in [against Croatia] and it's been a great team effort," head coach Leon Smith told the Independent.
Other interesting first round Davis Cup duels will be the battles between Defending champ Czech Republic and The Netherlands, Switzerland and Serbia, Germany and Spain, Japan and Canada, France and Australia, Argentina and Italy, and Belgium and Kazakhstan.
Djokovic and the Serbian men's tennis team are scheduled to take on Tomas Berdych and Czech Republic in the 2013 Davis Cup Final in Belgrade on Nov. 15-17.
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