Britain draws Canada in 2017 Davis Cup first round

PARIS — Britain will travel to Canada for the first round of the 2017 Davis Cup after Thursday's World Group draw that cast 2016 finalists Argentina and Croatia against Italy and Spain. 
Britain's title defense ended with defeat to Argentina in the semifinals last weekend, while Canada, semifinalists in 2013, beat Chile to maintain their World Group status.
The winner of the tie from Feb. 3-5 would face either France or Japan. 
The French, this year's beaten semifinalist, travels to Japan, which has fifth-ranked Kei Nishikori among its ranks.
The Japanese, who returned to the World Group in 2011 after 26 years absence, were beaten in the first round by Britain this year. 
Marin Cilic's Croatia is enjoying a run of success advancing to the 2016 final which it will host from Nov. 25-27 after sweeping France aside 3-2 in Zadar.
Next year it will start its campaign at home against Raphael Nadal's Spain, which has just won promotion to the World Group. 
The Spanish generally do better on clay, rather than Croatia's hard courts. 
Argentina also prefers clay, and drew a home tie against Italy, led by 2015 Australian Open doubles winner Simone Bolelli. 
The United States takes on Switzerland, while Lleyton Hewitt's Australia, which count on the talented Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, drew a home tie against the Czech Republic. 
The 2017 format has been shortened to the best-of-three sets rather than five and will be played over two days instead of three. 
A match is made up of two singles rubbers followed by a double rubber and two further singles games.
 The draw: 
World Group 1st round: Argentina vs. Italy; Germany vs. Belgium; Australia vs. Czech Republic; United States vs. Switzerland; Japan vs. France; Canada vs. Britain; Serbia vs. Russia; Croatia vs. Spain. — AFP