Roger Federer has confirmed he will play in a World Group Davis Cup first-round tie against the United States in Freiburg, Switzerland on February 10-12, the Swiss Tennis Federation has announced. The tie will be played on indoor clay. Federer has not played a non–relegation tie since 2004.
Because the tie will be played on clay, it is unclear whom U.S. captain Jim Courier will choose for his team. The top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan are capable of winning on any surface, but no U.S. male has had standout results in singles on dirt. However, both John Isner and Sam Querrey reached the final of the clay-court tournament in Belgrade in 2010, and Mardy Fish led the team to victory over Colombia in a World Group playoff in 2011. Andy Roddick has also won Davis Cup matches on clay, but as of last week had yet to commit to the team.
Federer won Roland Garros in 2009, and Swiss No. 2 Stanislas Wawrinka has won two titles on clay and reached the finals of the Rome Masters in 2008.