NZ draw India in Davis Cup while Venus keeps winning

New Zealand will face India in the first round of the Asia/Oceania Group 1 Davis Cup for 2017 after a draw ceremony held by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) overnight.

The tie will have New Zealand playing away in India 3-5 February 2017 in the week straight after the Australian Open.

The last time the two nations played was in 2015 in the Asia/Oceania final in Christchurch where India won 3-2. The overall record between the sides is five wins to India and three to New Zealand.

If New Zealand wins then they would face either Uzbekistan away or Korea at home.

"Its a tough draw to face India in India as the conditions are very much in their favour and they have some good depth. The last time we played them went down to the wire in Christchurch last year. They hadnt lost a doubles for a long time and we were ahead during the tie."

"Our team is working well together and getting better all the time. We all really want to show how good we can be," said team captain Alistair Hunt.

Continuing his good form Davis Cup team member Michael Venus has reached the semifinals of the rich ATP tournament in Metz, France where he and Croatian partner Mate Pavic beat fellow Kiwi Artem Sitak and American Nicholas Monroe 6-2 7-6(5) in the quarter-finals.

Venus and Pavic have won four ATP titles this year and have made the finals of two other tournaments.

The third New Zealander in the tournament quarters, Marcus Daniell and Brazilian Marcelo Demoliner had an opportunity to win their match but lost 5-7 7-6(3) 13-11 in one hour 45 minutes to Britain's Colin Fleming and American Scott Lipsky.

Venus and Pavic will now play Fleming and Lipsky for a place in the final.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from New Zealand Tennis