Tough 2007 Davis Cup Draws for Russia, Germany, Federer

The draw for the 2007 Davis Cup World Group was released Thursday, with top seed Russia in danger of making a first-round exit in an away match on clay against Chile, fronted by claycourters and Olympic singles and doubles champions Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu.

The first round of the Davis Cup will be played Feb. 9-11, 2007, two weeks after the Australian Open.

Russia will host Argentina in the finale of this year's Davis Cup on Dec. 1-3.

Argentina was dealt a relatively easy 2007 opener against Austria, while other difficult first-round match-ups include Croatia at Germany, Australia possibly facing another claycourt encounter at Belgium, Spain at Switzerland which will pressure world No. 1 Roger Federer to defend his home turf, and Sweden at Belarus.

In other match-ups Romania is at France, the winner to face the Russia vs. Chile victor, and the U.S. travels to the Czech Republic (clay?), with the winner to face the Switzerland vs. Spain victor.

"We're looking forward to yet another challenge against a top European team on clay," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe told Tennis Week. "Having to win an away match on clay has been a challenge for us and this tie against the Czech Republic presents another opportunity for us to do that. We relish the challenge. We won on clay in Belgium last year, but we haven't won an away match on clay in the World Group in recent years. We're all trying to figure out, yours truly included, how to get the job done and win on clay. We're all frustrated, but at the same time, we're all looking forward to this challenge."

The U.S. lost in its last trip to the Czech Republic, in 1996 when Petr Korda beat MaliVai Washington in straight sets in the fifth and deciding match.

Switzerland has not beaten Spain since 1946. Russia is 3-0 against Chile, but the nations have never squared off on clay according to ITF records, with their first meeting in 1963.