London: India has drawn Netherlands in its World Group play-off tie of the Davis Cup team tennis competition.

After making full advantage of the hot and humid conditions at home to beat New Zealand 4-1 in Kolkata in the Asia-Oceania second round tie, India will have to cope with the cold conditions of the northern winter when it travels to the Netherlands for the September 19 to 21 tie. The venue and the surface are yet to be announced.

The Dutch blew a 2-1 lead by losing both Sunday's singles in their 3-2 defeat by Switzerland in their first round match.

Thailand though has been handed a great chance of reaching the Davis Cup world group for the first time after being drawn at home against the Czech Republic.

The Thais, who secured their place in the play-offs with a 4-1 win over Uzbekistan, will be confident that the advantage of playing in front of their own supporters can help them overcome the seeded Czechs, who narrowly lost out to Russia in this year's first round in February.

The United States' punishment for losing to Croatia was another trip to Eastern Europe, with Slovakia the opponents this time around.

Britain must also navigate a difficult away trip to preserve its world group status.

The draw has sent it to Morocco for what will almost certainly be a tie played on Clay - a surface on which world number nine Younes El Aynaoui and Hicham Arazi will feel confident of matching Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.

Agencies