India draw Serbia in Davis Cup World Group

India will take on Davis Cup finalists Serbia in the opening round of next year's tournament.

The Indians retained their place in the World Group -- having lost to Russia earlier in the year -- after a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Brazil in the play-off tie in Chennai last Sunday.

Serbia, who reached this year's final by beating the Czech Republic 3-2, will host three-times runners-up India (1966, 1974, 1987) from March 4-6.

Nine-times champions France, who will meet Serbia in December's final, face Austria.

Wednesday's draw in Brussels pitted World Group newcomers Kazakhstan against the Czech Republic while 2007 winners the United States, who will have a new captain following Patrick McEnroe's resignation, travel to Chile.

Spain, champions in 2008 and 2009, were drawn away, against Belgium, while Argentina host Romania.

In other ties, Russia host Sweden while Croatia travel to Germany.

Serbia, top seeds in the elite 16-team World Group, have world No 2 Novak Djokovic and two other top-50 players in Janko Tipsarevic (34) and Viktor Troicki (47) in its ranks apart from Nenad Zimonjic, world number three in doubles.

India do not have any top-100 player, though Somdev Devvarman (117) and Rohan Bopanna (473) showed that in Davis Cup rankings counts for little as they disposed off challenges from world No 27 Thomaz Bellucci and 74th ranked Ricardo Mello respectively in last week's play-off against Brazil.

India's non-playing captain S P Misra rued luck was not on their side but vowed to put up a fight against the strong opponents.

"It's worst possible draw for us. We could have got a home tie, had any of the other five teams from Spain, Russia, France, USA and Czech Republic been drawn against us," Misra said.

"Nevertheless, we will fight it out. Nothing is decided till you play the last rubber. The players will get a chance to prepare for the tie playing big tournaments such as Australian Open. So we can hope that things may change in the run up to the tie," he said.

Since it will be winter during that time in Serbia, they may host the tie indoors.

"That's what we presume. Hard courts are suitable. Let's see how it pans out," Misra said.

India and Serbia are tied 1-1 having met twice in the tourney. The last time the two sides squared off was also a World Group first round tie in 1988, which Serbia, then as Yugoslavia, won 3-2 in New Delhi.

Prior to that, the only time they clashed was way back in 1927, when India won 3-0.

The draw:

Serbia v India

Russia v Sweden

Czech Republic v Kazakhstan

Argentina v Romania

Chile v United States

Belgium v Spain

Germany v Croatia

Austria v France