Tennis-Federer and Nadal go head to head in Davis Cup

ROME, Sep 28 (Reuters) The 2007 Davis Cup draw produced a potential showdown between Swiss world number one Roger Federer and his closest rival Rafael Nadal of Spain today.

Switzerland won home advantage in the first-round draw and are likely to opt for a fast court to counteract the claycourt supremacy of the Spanish and particularly Nadal, who has not been beaten on the surface since April 2005.

Spain have met Switzerland four times in Davis Cup play and hold a 3-1 lead, but all the encounters were before the era of the Federer-Nadal rivalry.

''It is obviouly a tough draw but I am sure Switzerland will also be thinking they are unlucky to have drawn the worst possible rival as well,'' the president of the Spanish tennis federation Pedro Munoz told Spanish media.

''With the spirit we now have in this team I am confident we can beat whoever we play, wherever it may be,'' Munoz added.

Argentina, who play Russia in December's 2006 final, have been drawn to play Austria away.

Since they returned to the World Group in 2002 Argentina have reached at least the quarter-finals every year but their only other final appearance came back in 1981.

Russia, who won the title in 2002, have a tough draw with a trip to Chile.

The U.S., who were the first team to win the Cup in 1900 and have claimed it 31 times, have been going through a lean patch and will be looking for their first title in 12 years next year.

The side, spearheaded by Andy Roddick and James Blake, have a tricky trip to the Czech Republic.

The first round takes place on February 9-11.

Draw: Chile v Russia Austria v Argentina Germany v Croatia Switzerland v Spain Belgium v Australia Czech Republic v U.S.

France v Romania Belarus v Sweden REUTERS AB HT1825