Davis Cup draw: three matches for Federer

Kratochvil and Federer (second left) will take on Martin and Gambill (far right) in the singles Keystone

The draw for Switzerland's first round Davis Cup encounter with the United States has thrown up few surprises. As expected Swiss captain Jakob Hlasek has built his plans around teenage star Roger Federer, who will play in three of the five rubbers.

The 19-year-old from Basel will open the Swiss campaign on Friday with a potentially explosive singles match against American veteran Todd Martin.

“The game will be fast,” Federer promised on Thursday. “Both of us play an attacking game. It will be essential to start well and to take the initiative.”

Hlasek has plumped for an in-form Michel Kratochvil to complete the singles line-up at the expense of an out-of-sorts George Bastl. Kratochvil will take on America’s Jan-Michael Gambill immediately after the match between Federer and Martin.

Asked about his decision to choose the 21-year-old from canton Bern in place of the more experienced Bastl, Hlasek said he had had little difficulty in making up his mind.

“The question was simple,” he insisted. “Who out of Bastl and Kratochvil has the better chance against Gambill? I think Kratochil has it in him to win the match.”

Following Friday’s singles, Federer will pair up with Davis Cup doubles specialist Lorenzo Manta against the American pairing of Gambill and Justin Gimelstob.

Sunday sees the action return to the singles game with Federer up against Gambill while Kratochvil meets Martin.

Hopes are high in the Swiss camp that the current form of the country’s players combined with the absence of top American stars Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, can help end a recent run of bad results in the sport’s biggest team competition.

A win over the United States would see Switzerland through to the second round for only the third time in the past seven years.

swissinfo with agencies