QUITO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador's Portoviejo will host the first round of the Americas Zone Group One in the Davis Cup 2016, which will see the home nation play against Barbados, announced Ecuador's tennis federation (FET) on Wednesday.

It will be the first time the city, capital of the southeastern coastal Manabi province, stages Davis Cup matches, said the FET via a press release.

The matches will take place between March 4 and 6 at the Portoviejo Tennis Club's clay courts.

"This is without a doubt a historic moment for our city because the Davis Cup has never been played in Portoviejo before. This thrills us and it is important that the FET is giving opportunities to other cities to host important events," said Gerardo Centeno, President of Portoviejo Tennis Club.

Ecuador and Barbados met in the 2015 edition of the tournament where the South Americans won 3-2.

This year, the winning team will face Brazil, between July 15 and 17, in the second round of the Americas Zone Group One, said the FET.