2018 Davis & Fed Cup draws released

Australia will face Germany and Spain will take on Great Britain, after a series of blockbuster ties were drawn in the first round of the Davis Cup. The Fed Cup threw up some equally intriguing match-ups, with finalists Belarus drawn against Germany, and the Czech Republic taking on Switzerland.

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After the ITF failed to pass the majority of its proposed changes to the competition, the main change is that the 2017 finalist nations are all guaranteed home ties. As a result Davis Cup finalists Belgium, who were drawn away to Hungary, have the option of switching venues, while France were already drawn at home. In the Fed Cup, Belarus have already secured a home tie, but the USA have the option of moving their tie against the Netherlands.

The first round of Davis Cup action takes place in the week proceeding the Australian Open (2-4 February), while the Fed Cup begins a week later (10-11 February).

2018 Draws

Davis Cup World Group – First round (2-4 February)
France [s] [c] v Netherlands
Japan [c] [*] v Italy [s]
Spain [c] v Great Britain [s]
Australia [s] [c] v Germany
Kazakhstan [c] v Switzerland [s]
Croatia [s] [c] [*] v Canada
Serbia [s] [c] v USA
[#] Hungary [c] v Belgium [s]

[#] = Belgium given choice to host tie as 2017 finalist nation (Belgian tennis federation to confirm by 4 October)

Fed Cup World Group – First round (10-11 February)
Belarus [s] [c] [*] v Germany
Czech Republic [s] [c] v Switzerland
France [s] [c] v Belgium
[#] Netherlands [c] v USA [s]

[#] = USA given choice to host tie as 2017 finalist nation (USTA to confirm by 4 October)

Fed Cup World Group II – First round (10-11 February)
Slovakia [c] v Russia [s]
Australia [c] v Ukraine [s]
Romania [s] [c] v Canada
Italy [s] [c] v Spain

Key
[s] = seeded nation
[c] = choice of ground
[*] = choice of ground decided by lot