08 April,2014 08:41 PM IST | | Agencies
India will take on Serbia at home in the Davis Cup World Group play-offs to be held from September 12 to 14, raising the possibility of multiple-time Grand Slam winner and world number two Novak Djokovic touching down in the country
New Delhi: Indian tennis fans might get an opportunity to see world no. 2 Novak Djokovic play in the country come September as Serbia have been drawn as their opponents in the Davis Cup World play-offs
The two nations will face-off from September 12 to 14.
Serbia, the 2013 finalists, will be travelling to India looking to continue its seven-year-long presence in the world group. This is unusual territory for this Serbian team, which has made the quarter-finals or better every year since 2010.
Bogdan Obradovic-led Serbia will face India for the second time in three years in a bid to maintain their World Group status, having defeated India 4-1 on their most recent foray into the top tier of the competition in the first round in 2011.
For India, this tie represents a chance to return to the Davis Cup's top table, having spent 2012 and 2013 in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.
India have been in impressive form in this year's competition, securing a 5-0 win against Chinese Taipei in the first round before defeating South Korea 3-1 in a potentially tricky encounter away in Busan.
However, Serbia will undoubtedly present a greater challenge for the Indian team. The 2010 champions may have suffered a loss to the Swiss dream team of Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka in the World Group first round this year, but Serbia's form in recent years has seen them become an serious force to reckoned with.
The Serbians recorded a 4-1 victory in the most recent meeting between the two nations, which was also the last time Serbia competed in a World Group play-off, in 2009.
Meanwhile, Spain and Argentina also face a fight to remain in the World Group following today's draw, with Carlos Moya's five-time champions needing to come away with a win in Brazil and four-time runner-up Argentina due to travel to Israel.
Australia, Canada and USA have been handed more favourable home draws, with Pat Rafter's men hosting Uzbekistan, USA taking on Slovak Republic and Canada granted a home tie against Colombia.
The remaining two ties will see Croatia travel to Netherlands in a draw decided by lot, and Ukraine set to host Belgium.
