GLASGOW, Scotland — Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Andy Murray will play No. 47-ranked Donald Young in the opening singles of Britain’s Davis Cup match against the United States.
John Isner, the highest-ranked U.S. player at No. 20, will play James Ward in Friday’s second match at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.
The draw for the first-round World Group match was held Thursday.
Murray is playing in his native Scotland. He led Britain to a 3-1 win over the U.S. in the first round last year in San Diego.
The draw for Saturday’s doubles has the top-ranked American pair of brothers Bob and Mike Bryan facing Murray’s brother, Jamie, and Dominic Inglot. The pairings can be changed later, with the possibility of the Murray brothers teaming up to face the Bryans.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic to face Croatia’s Mate Delic in opening singles of Davis Cup
KRALJEVO, Serbia — Novak Djokovic will play Mate Delic in the opening singles Friday when Serbia takes on Croatia in the first round of the Davis Cup.
The draw held Thursday also pits Viktor Troicki against Croatian player Borna Coric.
In Satruday’s doubles, Nenad Zimonjic and Troicki will face Marin Draganja and Franko Skugor.
The reverse singles are on Sunday.
U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic will miss the best-of-five series because of injury, leaving the Croatian team to be led by the 18-year-old Coric, who beat Rafael Nadal in October and Andy Murray last month.
Switzerland begins Davis Cup title defence without Federer and Wawrinka against Belgium
LIEGE, Belgium — With both teams missing their top players, 132nd-ranked Ruben Bemelmans of Belgium will play No. 344 Henri Laaksonen in the opening singles of the Davis Cup match against defending champion Switzerland.
Roger Federer is skipping the team event this year after leading Switzerland to its first title in 2014. The Swiss are also without 2013 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, while Belgium’s top player David Goffin withdrew at the last minute because of a back injury.
"It’s not easy. There’s a big difference between Roger and Stan and the other guys but my role is to show them there are players behind them ready to do their best," Swiss captain Severin Luthi said after Thursday’s draw. "We’ll give our best."
Steve Darcis will take on Switzerland’s Michael Lammer in Friday’s second singles match.
In Saturday’s doubles, Bemelmans and Neils Desein are set to face Adrien Bossel and Lammer.
Although they won’t be favourites at the 4,000-capacity Country Hall, the Swiss are counting on their greater experience.
"It’s important for us to start well," Luthi said. "Henri played against the Czechs and Michael has been in the team for many years. We hope that will help us."
Lammer took part in Switzerland’s winning campaign last year and Laaksonen has been selected twice for his country, the last time in 2013 against the Czechs in the first round.
The 21th-ranked Goffin, who has a 7-2 record in Davis Cup singles matches, could be fit in time to play in Sunday’s reverse singles.
"I don’t want to take any risks for tomorrow. It’s better to put Ruben on the court," Goffin said. "I took the decision this morning with the medical staff and the captain. It’s better to take one more day off, or two maybe, and maybe be ready for Sunday if it’s necessary.’
Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff to open Davis Cup match against France’s Gilles Simon
FRANKFURT — Jan-Lennard Struff will make his Davis Cup debut for Germany when he opens the best-of-five series against French player Gilles Simon.
In Friday’s second singles, Philipp Kohlschreiber will play Gael Monfils.
Struff had been nominated before but has never played.
Germany’s doubles players are Andre Begemann and Benjamin Becker, while Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut are slated to play for France on Saturday. The reverse singles are on Sunday.
Germany lost to France in last year’s quarterfinals and France reached the final. Germany has a new team captain, Michael Kohlmann.
Germany last beat France in 1938.
Lukas Rosol opens 1st round of Davis Cup against Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Lukas Rosol will open against Thanasi Kokkinakis on Friday when the Czech Republic faces Australia in the first round of the Davis Cup.
Thursday’s draw also pits Jiri Vesely against Bernard Tomic on indoor hardcourt in the eastern city of Ostrava.
The 133th-ranked Kokkinakis is a surprise choice for Australia captain Wally Masur, who also has Lleyton Hewitt and big serving Samuel Groth available.
Kokkinakis made the team as a substitute for the injured Nick Kyrgios.
The Czechs are without Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, the stalwarts who led them to the title in 2012 and 2013.
In Saturday’s doubles, Czech rookies Adam Pavlasek and Jan Mertl will face Groth and Hewitt.
Reverse singles are on Sunday.
The winner will play Italy or Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals in July.
Andreas Seppi to take on Andrei Golubev when Italy faces Kazakhstan in 1st round of Davis Cup
ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Andreas Seppi will face Andrei Golubev in the first round of the Davis Cup when Italy takes on Kazakhstan.
With Fabio Fognini slated to play only in the doubles, Seppi will play Goubev in the second singles match. Simone Bolelli will play Mikhail Kukushkin in the opening match.
In Saturday’s doubles, Fognini and Paolo Lorenzi will take on Golubev and Alexander Nedovesov. Reverse singles are scheduled for Sunday.
Both Italy and Kazakhstan lost to eventual champion Switzerland last year, with the Kazakhs beaten in the quarterfinals and Italy in the semifinals.