India gets bye in round 1 to host Kiwis or Korea next

Being the top seeds, the Indian Davis Cup team on Thursday received a bye for the first round of the Asia/<g data-gr-id="23">Oeceania</g> Group I 2016 competition.

In the second round, to be held from July 15-17, India will host either New Zealand or Korea as they had beaten both the sides in away ties this year.

India lost the World Group Play-off tie against top seeds Czech Republic 1-3 in the home tie last week to remain in the Asia/<g data-gr-id="24">Oeceania</g> Group I zone. The winner of the second round will advance to the play-off stage, where teams strive to make it to the elite 16-nation World Group. India had a great chance to qualify last week when world number one team Czech Republic visited without world number five Tomas <g data-gr-id="33">Berdych</g> but defeat in the doubles rubber hurt the team’s chances badly. Adam Pavlasek, playing only his second Davis Cup tie, gelled well with the experienced Radek Stepanek to shock Paes and Rohan Bopanna in that match.