Federer, Nadal could clash early in Davis Cup 2007

Sep 28, 2006, 14:58 GMT

Rome - Roger Federer and hot rival Rafael Nadal may wish to reconsider their 2007 playing schedules after Switzerland and Spain were Thursday drawn as first-round opponents in the Davis Cup next February 9-11.

Spain will travel to Switzerland for the first meeting between the countries since the Spanish went 4-1 in 1998 in La Coruna through Carlos Moya and Alex Corretja in the quarter-finals.

Federer, who helped the Swiss past Serbia in the playoff round at the weekend in Geneva, typically does not play in the first round of Davis Cup, which falls just a week after the end of the Australian Open.

Nadal, world number 2 to the number 1 of Federer, played only in Spain's win over Italy last weekend but last participated in 2005.

Spain hold a 3-1 lead over the Swiss in Davis play.

In other World group ties drawn at the Foro Italico, 2005 finalist Russia faces Chile away while Argentina, the other finalist for December in Russia, play Austria.

Other ties include: Germany v Croatia, Belgium v Australia, Czech Republic v US, France v Romania and Belarus v Sweden.

Australia and Belgium last met in Perth in 1991 in the first round. earning a 5-0 win.

'The Belgians are a quality group of players, no question,' said Australian captain John Fitzgerald. 'The Rochus brothers (Olivier and Christophe), Kristof Vliegen and Xavier Malisse are all in the top 100 so they will not be easy to beat at home.

'We've been very lucky to have had a lot of ties at home over the past five years, so we are prepared for tough away ties over the next few years.'

The US will travel to the Czech Republic looking for a first trophy since 1995 despite having won a record 31 times.