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Federer and Wawrinka resume winning partnership

There couldn't have been a more fitting place for the draw ceremony on Thursday than the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Some four weeks ago, Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka had captured the doubles gold medal in Beijing and sent a whole nation into frenzy as it marked one of only two gold medals that the Swiss delegation took home.

And Swiss spectators possibly see the heroes united again on Saturday in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Play-off tie between Switzerland and Belgium: Federer and Wawrinka are nominated for the doubles against late replacement Xavier Malisse who pairs with Olivier Rochus, who lifted the crown at the French Open back in 2004.

However, captain Swiss captain Severin Luthi could also opt to play long-time partners Federer and Yves Allegro, the decision can be taken until one hour before the start of the match. The draw for the weekend is as follows:

Friday
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v Steve Darcis (BEL)
Roger Federer (SUI) v Kristof Vliegen (BEL)

Saturday
Roger Federer/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v Olivier Rochus/Xavier Malisse (BEL)

Sunday
Roger Federer (SUI) v Steve Darcis (BEL)
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v Kristof Vliegen (BEL)

Federer "ready to go"

After a difficult year, at least by his own extraordinarily high standards, the Swiss maestro rides high on confidence again. The golden days in China, followed by the fifth consecutive trophy at the US Open, proved to alot of people that Federer still is Federer.

When the 27-year-old got back to his native Basel on Thursday, he had a great reception together with fellow-gold winners Wawrinka and cyclist Fabian Cancellara. Since Monday he has been practising with the team and doesn't consider fatigue a factor: "I feel fine, I haven't played a match in ten to twelve days and am ready to go."

Both Swiss can benefit from the home court advantage to the biggest extent. Wawrinka is from the village of St-Barthlemy and lives in Lausanne and Federer has had some of the most important years of his career when he joined the national centre in Ecublens at the age of 14.

Vliegens two challenger titles

To some people it may come as a surprise that Captain Julien Hoferlin sends Vliegen into the battle against the winner of 13 Grand Slam tournaments. But the 26-year-old has played well recently, capturing two of his last three challenger events (Geneva, Dusseldorf), while Olivier Rochus and Xavier Malisse have struggled with form.

Hoferlin reflected on the choice: "Kristof is a really good Davis Cup player, he loves to play when it's fully packed and isn't afraid of anybody. Xavier lacks a bit of confidence and Olivier had some injury trouble.”

Darcis looking for three miracles

Darcis knows that the opening rubber will be more than just one of five matches. If Belgium wants to win, he has to create the upset and beat Wawrinka. He knows that it won't be an easy feat to beat one of the latest additions to the Top 10.

"Stan is one of the best players in the world and will be very tough to beat. But he will also face a lot of pressure in Lausanne." For the 24-year-old, who won a title at Memphis on a similar surface this year, his team are the clearest of outsiders: "If we win one point, it will be a miracle, if we win three, it's three miracles."

Against the memories

Switzerland not only competes to establish itself among the elite nations again, but also to avenge two defeats. First, last year's loss in the play-offs against the Czech Republic, where the Swiss lost 2-3 after having match point in the doubles. And second, the 2-3 in the last meeting of the two nations in Brussels in the World Group quarterfinal in 1999. Team leader Marc Rosset was sick and Roger Federer, not even 18 years old, lost both encounters after long and hard battles. "I don't have good memories of that tie and have been waiting for a long time to play Belgium again,” Federer concluded.


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OMG, Red is SO his color *sighs*

Rafaelicious Nadal *drools*

Tall order for Querrey on debut

Could there be a tougher Davis Cup debut? American Sam Querrey was drawn to open this weekend’s semifinal against world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who is undefeated in eight straight Davis Cup singles matches, and has only lost once on clay in three-and-a-half years. Not only that, but the Spaniard will be supported by some 21,000 fans that will fill the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas in Madrid on Friday.

The full draw is as follows:

Friday
Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Sam Querrey (USA)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Andy Roddick (USA)

Saturday
Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v Mike Bryan/Mardy Fish (USA)

Sunday
Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Andy Roddick (USA)
David Ferrer (ESP) v Sam Querrey (USA)

Although he has lost both of his previous meetings with Nadal, Querrey can draw heart from their last match-up three weeks ago at the US Open, where Nadal won in four tough sets.

"I hope to bring some of the things that helped me in that match to this one," said Querrey. "I rather be playing first and get out there and not spend three hours in the locker room waiting around."

"It was a tough match. I will have to play well," said the world No. 1. "The Davis Cup is special. Playing for a team is great rather than just for yourself."

Querrey will be followed onto court by Andy Roddick, who goes into this weekend’s tie one singles victory behind Andre Agassi, in the USA all-time list for Davis Cup singles wins and could conceivably overtake him and move into second place behind John McEnroe this weekend though he will have to produce his very best clay-court tennis.

Roddick is on a nine-match Davis Cup singles winning streak, going into Friday’s match against David Ferrer. The two are separated by just three places in the latest rankings and it is the higher-ranked Ferrer who leads their head-to-head 3-2 and has won their last two matches. This will be their first meeting on clay.

"It's going to be tough. His earned his spot in the Top 5 and he doesn't get enough credit for his consistency. I've got my hands full, I have to win the big points," was Roddick's view of the match.

Bryan brothers not together

For the first time since February 2003, the Bryan brothers will not line up together for the doubles rubber, due to a left shoulder injury to Bob. Mike will instead partner Mardy Fish, who was called up to the team last weekend. Fish, who reached the quarterfinals of the US Open two weeks ago, was expecting to be busy with preparations for his wedding next weekend but instead finds himself trying to help Mike become just the fourth American to win 15 Davis Cup doubles matches.

Bryan and Fish are due to take on Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, who have been named as Spain’s Davis Cup doubles team for the fifth straight tie. They have won three of four to date, their only defeat coming to the Bryan brothers in last year’s quarterfinal.

"It's a little bit easier (without Bob Bryan) but a Davis Cup doubles match is always tough, no matter who plays," said Lopez. "Everyone will be supporting us and cheering for us so it's going to be good," added Verdasco.

The first of Sunday’s reverse singles will see a sixth meeting between Roddick and Nadal. The two have one victory apiece in their two meetings this year and Nadal leads 3-2 overall. Their only previous meeting on clay was in the 2004 Davis Cup final in Seville, where Nadal announced himself on the world stage with victory over Roddick. The tie will be closed out by Querrey and Ferrer, who have never met.

Spain undefeated at home since 1999

USA leads Spain 5-3 in previous encounters, but the last five matches between the two nations have been won by the home side. USA has produced the only away victory by either nation in match-ups to date, Stan Smith winning a deciding fifth rubber in 1972 to secure a 3-2 victory.

While USA has won 3 of its last 4 ties on clay and four of its last 5 on the road, there is no doubt that this is an incredibly tough assignment for the defending champion, without its usual quarter for the first time in 11 ties. Spain has not lost a home tie since 1999 when Gustavo Kuerten led Brazil to a 3-2 victory in Lerida, which was also the last time that the two-time champion lost on clay. The 2004 champion has won 13 successive ties at home and 15 straight ties on clay.

"On paper, we are the favourites but the magic of sport is that this doesn't matter. We have to play our best tennis to beat the Americans," said Spanish captain Emilio Sanchez.

This is Spain’s first home tie for two years and its first semifinal since 2004, when it went on to capture its second Davis Cup title. USA, on the other hand is through to the last four for the third year in a row, and will not give up its crown easily.

http://www.daviscup.com/shared/medialibrary/audio/mp3/DC_9502_mp3.MP3

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