By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:40pm PST USA

MADRID--(lawntennismag.com) After a semifinal defeat to Spain at Madrid last week, the USA is set for another tough Davis Cup tie as the American team will meet Switzerland next year in the first round. The 2009 World Group draw was completed today with the USA facing Switzerland at home. World number two Roger Federer of Switzerland as well as other top ranked players often choose to sit out early round Davis Cup rounds against weaker countries. Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka | Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

The Switzerland versus USA first round matches are to be played March 6-8, 2009. Federer may well decide to play the first round tie however as a Swiss team without him may face extreme difficulty defeating a US team led by Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake. Federer and ninth ranked Stanislas Wawrinka won the Olympic doubles gold medal in Beijing. Next year Federer is scheduled to play at Indian Wells, California the week of March 9th, the week following the Switzerland-USA first round tie. Switzerland is tied with the USA head to head 1-1. Federer, Switzerland's number one player leads Roddick, the USA's top player head to head 15-2. But after losing to Federer in eleven straight matches, Roddick won their last encounter this spring at the Miami quarterfinals 7-6(7-4,), 4-6, 6-3. The Switzerland versus USA first round matches are to be played March 6th through 8th. Federer has not yet indicated that he would participate, but he did express that next year's Davis Cup schedule might be more accommodating for the players. “This year it was particularly brutal actually for all of us,” Federer said. “It has been really difficult. Next year it is going to be easier.”