Australia have been handed a tough draw in the group stages of the Davis Cup finals, in which they will be bidding to take the final step after successive runners-up spots.
Czech Republic, France and Spain were paired with Lleyton Hewitt's team, with the latter hosting the group, in Valencia from 10-15 September.
Feliciano Lopez, the tournament director, who is Spanish, said ruefully after overseeing the proceedings in London on Tuesday: "Spain has probably the toughest opponents in these finals, in my opinion the strongest group."
