Davis Cup: Great Britain face the USA at home in first round of the World Group

Great Britain face a Davis Cup rematch with the USA in the first round of the World Group next March as Andy Murray reaffirms his commitment to the side.

Leon Smith's team secured their place at the elite level of the competition for a second consecutive season by upsetting USA in San Diego in February and then lost narrowly to Italy in the quarter-finals to deny them a place in the semi-finals for the first time in 33 years.

Because Britain played on US soil the last time the two teams met, this tie will be played on home soil in Britain from 6-8 March 2015.

USA had been favoured to win the last tie but their choice of clay backfired and James Ward's victory over Sam Querrey coupled with two wins for Murray decided it.

A home tie will not necessarily make Britain favourites this time, though, given USA were without their No 1 John Isner last year.

Choice of surface

Picking a surface will not be that easy for captain Smith and his team given that the fast indoor court they have selected for home ties in the past would also suit the US.

We'll be looking to try and increase our odds once again and get another win, this time on home soil.

And the prowess of the Americans' doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan means whoever is picked as number two singles player - probably Ward - will likely need to win a rubber.

It will be Britain's first home match since April 2013, when they recovered from a 2-0 deficit to stun Russia at Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

Victory for Britain over the US would mean another home tie against either top seeds France or Germany in July.

Smith is expecting a tough match: "This is obviously a big tie against very tough opposition who we know very well having played them earlier this year.

"That win was a fantastic upset, and we'll be looking to try and increase our odds once again and get another win, this time on home soil."

Murray commitment

Meanwhile, British No 1 Murray has confirmed he will play in the tie whatever the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum.

The world No 11 broke his silence on the subject with a tweet in the early hours of Thursday morning backing a 'yes' vote.

That left question marks over Murray's continued commitment to the British team should the union remain in place.

I will be playing for Great Britain in the Davis Cup next year, that is for sure. I will be there in March. As far as I'm concerned the vote doesn't change anything in that regard.

The 27-year-old has always stressed his pride at representing Britain in Davis Cup and at the Olympics, citing the singles gold he won in London two years ago as of equal importance to his two grand slam titles.

And Murray told the Daily Mail: "I will be playing for Great Britain in the Davis Cup next year, that is for sure. I will be there in March. As far as I'm concerned the vote doesn't change anything in that regard."

The pick of the other first-round ties are derby matches between Argentina and Brazil while fourth seeds and winners in 2010 Serbia meet Croatia in a clash that could pit world No 1 Novak Djokovic against newly-crowned US Open champion Marin Cilic.

Second seeds Switzerland, who knocked out Italy to reach the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1992, travel to Belgium.

The Czechs, winners in 2012 and 2013, host Australia and this year's beaten semi-finalists Italy meet Kazakhstan.

Canada will also have the chance of redemption when they face Japan after their injury-hit team was hammered 4-1 in Tokyo in February to miss out on a place in the last eight.

Switzerland meet France in this year's final, which takes place in France from 21-23 November.

World Group draw:

Germany v (1) France

Great Britain v (7) United States

(3) Czech Republic v Australia

Kazakhstan v (6) Italy     

(5) Argentina v Brazil

(4) Serbia v Croatia

(8) Canada v Japan

Belgium v (2) Switzerland