By Nick Georgandis

It's hard to beat the weather in Southern California, and the US Davis Cup team is hoping it proves just as tough to defeat next January when it hosts the UK at Petco Park in San Diego.

It was announced by the USTA on Tuesday that the home of the San Diego Padres will host the first-round match between the US and UK squads on clay January 31 - February 2, 2014.

It's a calculated risk for the US to play on clay. The belief is that the British men are even more uncomfortable on the surface than the Americans.

This will be the first time the two countries have squared off in Davis Cup play since 1999, also a first-round meeting. The two nations form the Davis Cup's oldest rivalry, dating back to its inaugural year of 1900.

Petco Park will configured to seat 8,000 fans. It will be the first time the US has hosted a Davis Up event outdoors.