Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/447398
9 Note: All other references to the World Group in these Regulations include the World Group Play-off Ties 20. THE ZONAL COMPETITIONS - PARTICIPATION Nations not qualified to compete in the World Group shall play in the Zonal Competitions as follows: (a) Americas Zone Nations situated in the continent of America. (b) Asia/Oceania Zone Nations situated in the continent of Asia/Oceania. (c) Europe/Africa Zone European Nations whose principal territory is within the confines of Europe and in addition the Nations situated in the continent of Africa. A total of 24 Nations shall compete in the Group I Zonal Competition, 32 Nations shall compete in the Group II Zonal Competition and remaining Nations shall compete in the Group III and IV Zonal Competition. If there is one Nation only in a Zonal Competition, that Nation shall be declared the winner of that Zonal Competition. Nations included in the above Zones are hereinafter referred to as Zonal competitors. 21. AMERICAS AND ASIA/OCEANIA ZONES GROUP I (a) Participation The strongest Nations in the Americas Zone and the strongest Nations in the Asia/Oceania Zone shall each play in Group I of their area. They shall be selected as follows: (i) Those Nations from the Zone who were defeated in the World Group Play-off Ties of the previous year; (ii) Those Nations who competed in Group I of the Zone the previous year who were not promoted to the World Group nor relegated; (iii) The Nations promoted from Group II of the Zone the previous year. (b) Seeds (i) Two Nations shall be seeded, unless there are eight or more Nations in the Group, in which case four shall be seeded. (ii) The selection of seeds shall be made by the Davis Cup Committee in accordance with the most recent Davis Cup Nations Ranking. (iii) The seeds shall be drawn and placed as follows: Seeds 1 and 2 shall be placed at the top and at the bottom of the Draw respectively. If four Nations are seeded, Seeds 3 and 4 shall be drawn first into the top of the second quarter and then into the bottom of the third quarter. (c) Byes If there are Byes they shall be given to the seeded Nations in descending order. If the number of Byes exceeds the number of seeds, the remaining Byes shall be evenly placed in different sections of the draw.