Madrid (Agencies): Rafael Nadal’s Spain will host defending champions Croatia in the Davis Cup finals.
Draw for Davis Cup finals to be held in Madrid from November 18-24.
Nadal, a Davis Cup champion in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011, will likely face Marin Cilic, Croatia’s top player who won both his singles in the 2018 Davis Cup final victory over France.
Nadal has said he intends to take part in the new-look week-long event on home ground in Madrid from November 18-24.
However, 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 world number one Djokovic has said he intends to focus on the ATP World Team Cup to be staged in Australia in January.
Ten-time champions France, 2010 winners Serbia and Japan contest Group A while 2016 victors Argentina, Germany and Chile are in Group C.
Argentina will be sweating on the fitness of regularly injured Juan Martin del Potro while Germany could be without world number three Alexander Zverev.
The ATP World Tour Finals champion played in last weekend’s qualifying round win against Hungary but has long insisted he has no interest in playing in the November finals, claiming he prefers to rest.
Group D sees Belgium and Colombia pooled with 28-time champions Australia while Britain, who have been champions on 10 occasions, Kazakhstan and Netherlands make up Group E.
Group F sees record 32-time winners United States clash with Italy and Canada.
