Roger Federer ... to lead Switzerland against the Czech Republic in a Davis Cup play-off starting today. - AP

LONDON (AP):

THE DAVIS Cup play-offs are likely to draw as much attention as the semi-finals this weekend.

With participation in next year's World Group on the line, Roger Federer will make his 2007 debut for Switzerland in the Czech Republic. The best-of-five series starts today.

Novak Djokovic, who lost to Federer in the U.S. Open final earlier this month, will also play when Serbia host 28-time champions Australia in another play-off.

"After 15, 20 years, we've got a chance to get to the World Group," the third-ranked Djokovic said.

Also, four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman will be playing his last competitive matches when Britain host Croatia at the All England Club.

In the semi-finals, the 31-time champions United States visit Sweden and defending champions Russia host Germany.

On September 9, Federer won his fourth straight U.S. Open and 12th Grand Slam title. Just like the past couple of years, the top-ranked Swiss skipped the early rounds of the Davis Cup but is returning to help his country in the play-offs.

"I'm really looking forward to the Davis Cup weekend again," said Federer, who again won three major titles this year and reached his second straight French Open final. "I haven't had it for a year. I'm very excited."

Hewitt to lead Australia

Lleyton Hewitt, a former top-ranked player and two-time Grand Slam champion, will lead Australia against the Serbs and Djokovic.

"I haven't played too many relegation matches in my career," Hewitt said. "We're going to go in as the underdogs, but we'll see what happens."

The other play-offs include Austria vs Brazil; Peru vs Belarus; Israel vs Chile; Japan vs Romania; and Slovakia vs South Korea.

The winners of the eight play-offs will play in next year's World Group along with the eight quarter-finalists.

The Americans have won the most Davis Cup titles, but the last one came in 1995.

"I'm just worried about our guys playing well," United States captain Patrick McEnroe said. "I think if we're ready to play, play the best we can play, I feel pretty good about our chances."

The Swedes, however, are 3-1 against the Americans in Goteborg, where they will play on indoor carpet this weekend.

"I like the surface. I feel like it's a good surface for us actually," said Andy Roddick, who will team with James Blake and twins Bob and Mike Bryan for the Americans. "It's quick, but I think there's been quicker surfaces. You know, you're still able to set up, hit balls, play from the baseline."

Sweden will be led by 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson, Jonas Bjorkman, Joachim Johansson and Simon Aspelin.

Russia, who beat Argentina to win the 2006 title, will have fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko when they face Germany on clay in Moscow.

Davydenko, who lost to Federer in the U.S. Open semi-finals, will be joined by Mikhail Youzhny, Dmitry Tursunov and Igor Andreev. Germany will use Tommy Haas, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Alexander Waske and Philipp Petzschner.