Swiss-U.S. match tops Davis Cup pairings

LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- World No. 2 Roger Federer helped the Swiss qualify for next year's World Group in Davis Cup play and the Swiss will open the tournament in the United States.

Federer and the rest of the Swiss team defeated Belgium 4-1 last weekend in earning a spot in the World Group. The United States, which won the Davis Cup in 2007, lost a semifinal match in Spain last weekend.

The U.S. team will play host to the Swiss March 6-8. Davis Cup officials didn't announce a site of the best-of-five series.

Other first-round Davis Cup matches have Serbia playing in Spain, The Netherlands going to Argentina, Russia visiting Romania, France heading for the Czech Republic, Chile in Croatia, Israel at Sweden and Austria playing in Germany.

Spain, which has been led by world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, goes to Argentina in November for the 2008 Davis Cup title series.