rogerfederer.com - Davis Cup: ready for take-off

Davis Cup: ready for take-off

Roger was drawn against world number 262 Alan Mackin in place of the British team's top player Greg Rusedski to this weekend's World Group playoff against Switzerland.

Rusedski is expected to be brought in for Sunday's reverse singles, allowing Britain to concentrate their firepower on the matches against Swiss number two Stanislas Wawrinka as well as on Saturday's doubles rubber.

Britain's number three Andy Murray will be the first to play Stanislas Wawrinka in Friday's second singles rubber. Rusedski and Murray will then pair up against Roger and Yves Allegro in the doubles. Britain will hope to still be in contention after Murray's rubber with Roger on Sunday, allowing Rusedski to come in for a decisive match against Wawrinka.

"Yes, I was surprised," Roger said during the Swiss team's media conference. "You always keep in mind the various options that are there, but I thought it might be Murray that they would leave out. I'm sure they have their reasons though. I'm happy not to be playing Murray in my first match though, and I think Stan is pleased not to be playing Rusedski, who he has never beaten."

The crowd will certainly be there to support the athletes all the way; the stadium seats 8'300; 18'600 tickets had been sold until the beginning of the week.

The programme

Davis Cup, Switzerland - Great Britain in Geneva (Indoor; sand; 8300 seats). Friday, 13.00: Roger Federer - Alan Mackin, followed by Stanislas Wawrinka - Andrew Murray. - Saturday, 13.00: Roger Federer/Yves Allegro - Murray/Greg Rusedski. - Sunday, 12.00: Roger Federer - Murray, followed by Wawrinka - Mackin.

Referee: Paulo Pereira (BRA). - Chair-referee: Sandra de Jenken (FRA), Hans-Jürgen Ochs (GER).

Switzerland: Roger Federer (Singles ranking: 1/doubles: 130), Stanislas Wawrinka (60/930), George Bastl (113/587), Yves Allegro (1101/36). - Captain: Severin Lüthi.

Grossbritannien: Greg Rusedski (29/505), Andrew Murray (110/1387), David Sherwood (233/279), Alan Mackin (262/994). - Captain: Jeremy Bates.

Head-to-Head: 0:3. - Last encounter: 1985 GBR - SUI 3:0.