It means that the Czech Republic will be the first country to host both the Fed Cup and Davis Cup finals in the same year, with the women taking on Serbia two weeks earlier.

The clash between the Czechs and Spain will take place in front of more than 13,000 spectators as the ITF gears up for its centenary celebrations next year.

Spain has won four of the last five Davis Cup finals, and having beaten Argentina last year, they will be favourites in the tournament.

Although their team does not include world number four Rafa Nadal, the improving David Ferrer (pictured top), ranked fifth, leads the team, which also includes the experienced Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The Czech team is led by world number six Tomáš Berdych, a formidable opponent for any player in the world on his day.

It also includes Lukáš Rosol, who has already upset the Spanish this year when the then number 100 produced one of the biggest shocks in recent tennis history by beating Nadal in the second round of Wimbledon.

Spain have won four of their six head-to-head meetings with the Czechs, their last meeting being a resounding 5-0 win in Barcelona in the 2009 Davis Cup final.

The Czechs have won the Davis Cup just once in their history, in 1980, when they were led to victory by US Open champion Andy Murray's current coach Ivan Lendl.

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