By DPA
Vienna : A mere two months after celebrating a Davis Cup title triumph over Russia, Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake lead their team back into battle with an away tie on clay against Austria this weekend.
While no.6 Roddick did not beg off of a first-round World Group encounter, which the Americans feel is far from dignified – the holder, they argue should perhaps be given a first-round bye – that’s not the case for the top two players in the world.
No.1 Roger Federer, who popped up at the American Super Bowl at the weekend, will be missing, as Switzerland travel to Poland in European Zonal play while Spaniard Rafael Nadal will skip Spain’s top-level clash against Peru in South America.
Nadal was beaten in the Australian Open semi-finals by Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga while Federer lost at the same stage in Melbourne to eventual champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
World No.3 Djokovic is revved up to continue his progress and as he takes Serbia into the Russian bear’s cave in Moscow against a side, which has recalled former star Marat Safin.
Safin didn’t play in the December final in Portland against the US but feels he now has his longstanding knee injury under control.
Russia, champion in 2006, will field world number four Nikolay Davydenko, Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny along with Safin while Serbia will back up Djokovic with Australian Open mixed doubles champion Nenad Zimonjic.
Janko Tipsarevic, who gave Federer a hard time in the Melbourne third round and Viktor Troiki complete the lineup for the visitors on indoor hardcourt.
While Roddick is far from pleased to be going back into action so soon after victory, the American will have the chance to recover from an ill-tempered third-round Melbourne defeat.
The man who beat him, German Philip Kohlschreiber, will lead his nation against Korea while Sweden travel to Israel, the Czechs play Belgium and France face Romania away.
The most one-sided of the eight World Group contests promises to be a clay match-up between underpowered Britain – minus injured Andy Roddick – and Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The visitor have few hopes and the loss to ankle injury of Juan Monaco by the hosts is unlikely to make a difference in what promises to be a rout. David Nalbandian heads the South American assault, along with Agustin Calleri, Jose Aacsuso and replacement Juan Chela.
Britain’s highest-ranked player is number 187 Alex Bogdanovic, ahead of number Jamie Baker at 239. Jamie Murray, doubles number 36 and unknown Ross Hutchins make up the numbers for the outclassed visitors.
The Bryan brothers will back up Americans Roddick and Blake in doubles. The twins have not won a major title since Australia, 2007, but are formidable in Davis play.
Stefan Koubek, on 55th, is the highest-ranked Austrian ahead of teammate Jurgen Melzer.
“If we work well and we take every chance we get, maybe we can get an upset,” said an optimistic Koubek.