Aussies open Davis Cup against Colombia

Australia will kick off their campaign in the new-look Davis Cup against Colombia in Madrid on November 19.

The week-long event in the Spanish capital starts on November 18 with Lleyton Hewitt's side playing their second and final Group D clash against fourth-ranked Belgium on November 20.

All matches are best of three sets, with two singles and a doubles match with the top 18 nations in world tennis competing.

The teams are competing in six groups in the group stage with the six group winners plus the two best second placed teams, based on percentage of sets won, progressing to the quarter-finals.

Schedule:

Monday 18 November

Croatia v Russia

Canada v Italy

Belgium v Colombia

Tuesday 19 November

Argentina v Chile

France v Japan

Kazakhstan v Netherlands

Spain v Russia

USA v Canada

Australia v Colombia

Wednesday 20 November

Argentina v Germany

Serbia v Japan

Great Britain v Netherlands

Croatia v Spain

USA v Italy

Belgium v Australia

Thursday 21 November

France v Serbia

Germany v Chile

Great Britain v Kazakhstan

Quarter-final: Winner Group D v Winner Group F

Friday 22 November

Quarter-final: Winner Group A v Runner Up (best second place)

Quarter-final: Winner Group B v Runner Up (best second place)

Quarter-final: Winner Group E v Winner Group C

Saturday 23 November

Semi-finals

Sunday 24 November

Final