Tennis: Host Spain get tough draw in new Davis Cup Finals

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Host Spain have been handed a difficult draw as they are placed in the "toughest" group for this year's inaugural Davis Cup Finals at a ceremony in Madrid on Thursday.

Billed as a soccer-style World Cup of tennis, Spain is drawn with defending Davis Cup champions Croatia and a potent Russia in a so-called "group of death."

France, 2018 runners-up, face Serbia, who are not certain to have world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in their ranks, and Japan in Group A.

A drastic revamp of the 119-year-old team competition will culminate in a week-long event featuring 18 nations at Madrid's La Caja Magica from November 18-24.

A screen displays the different groups after the draw for the 2019 Davis Cup tennis finals in Madrid on February 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

Rafael Nadal is set to be the only member of the sport's big four taking part in the tournament, while his long-time rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be missing.

Federer's Switzerland didn't qualify, Britain's Murray has virtually retired while Djokovic has said he intends to focus on the ATP World Team Cup to be staged in Australia in January.

Of the four other "seeded" teams, Argentina are in Group C with Germany and Chile, Belgium are joined in Group D by Australia and Colombia and Britain head Group E with Kazakhstan and the Netherlands.

The United States, who have won more Davis Cup titles than any other nation, play Italy and Canada.

The six group winners and best two runners-up will go forward to the quarter-finals.

Individual ties will consist of two singles matches and one doubles match, all played on one day.

(With input from agencies)