U.S. going to Uzbekistan in Davis Cup playoffs, Swiss vs Dutch

LONDON (AP) The United States will travel to Uzbekistan for the first time among some tough away trips in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs in September.

Winners qualify for the elite 16-nation World Group next year.

In other matchups drawn on Tuesday, 2014 champion Switzerland hosts the Netherlands, 2012 and 2013 champ the Czech Republic goes to India, 2014 semifinalist Italy is at Russia, Japan travels to Colombia, Brazil hosts Croatia, Poland welcomes Slovakia, and the Dominican Republic, in its first World Group playoff, is at home to Germany.

The U.S., the Davis Cup's most successful team, has been out of the World Group only one year, 1988, in the last 35.

This is the eighth time Uzbekistan has made the playoffs, and has yet to win one. But this will be its first playoff at home in 15 years.

The Swiss, a first-time winner last year but without Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka this year, lost to Belgium in the first round.

The Czechs have a 3-0 record against India, which last featured in the World Group in 2011.

Colombia has a chance to avenge a playoff loss to Japan in 2013 in Tokyo, Brazil and Croatia both started this year in the World Group, Poland can reach the elite for the first time, and Italy has a 4-1 record against Russia.

The Dominican Republic has been competing in Davis Cup since only 1989, the year when Germany won the second of its three titles.