Thailand have a tough assignment in the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs as they were paired with Germany in the draw held in London yesterday.

Thailand will visit the Europeans for the September 22-24 tie, which will be their fourth appearance in the elite group where they lost three consecutive times between 2002-2004.

It will need a herculean effort from the Kingdom's stars if the hosts field a star-studded squad consisting of world No 13 Nicholas Kiefer and No 27 Tommy Haas.

Besides the two, Germany also have five other players in the top 100 at their beck and call. One of them is a former Australian Open finalist and former top 10 player, Rainer Schuttler, who is currently ranked No 75.

Germany, most probably, will choose an indoor clay surface against the Thai team, which is vulnerable on the slow court. Thai top players Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke have a distaste for clay and their performances have always been below par.

Though foes on court, Kiefer and Schuttler are close pals of Paradorn on the ATP Tour. The two Germans stopped by in Pattaya at the end of last year to hit balls with Paradorn and Danai in preparation for the Australian hard court season.

"No matter who we have to play, it will be tough because we are at World Group level. I used to compete and practise with them but on clay they will be tough," said Paradorn, who yesterday flew to his hometown in Khon Kaen for a Songkran family reunion.

The world No 114 Danai appeared disappointment when he learned that Thailand had to play an away tie against a very powerful team.

"The chances are slim for us. Obviously we are the underdogs. About the surface, I'm pretty sure clay is going to be their choice. I can rate our chances at 30 percent," said Danai, who was part of the team that took on Russia in a 2004 Davis Cup tie in Moscow where Thailand were thrashed 5-0 on the red clay.

The Thai No 2, however, hoped that Paradorn will raise his game a few notches higher and avoid a similar whitewash at the hands of the Germans.

"German shouldn't be as tough as Russia. I believe Paradorn will win a point for Thailand because he is the only one in the team who can counter punch with Kiefer and Haas," added Danai.

Like Danai, doubles player Sanchai Ratiwatana doesn't see a chance to beat Germany but remained positive that the team would not return with a bagel like it happened against Russia two years ago.

"It will take a miracle to upset Germany if they field a full A squad. But I'm sure Paradorn will do his best," said Sanchai, who will team up with his brother in the doubles match.

Thailand earned their fourth slot in the play-offs last weekend when they beat Japan 3-2 at home. The country made a hat-trick into the elite group between 2002-2004 but never went beyond that level. Apart from the defeat to Russia, the country lost to England 2-3 in 2002 and to the Czech Republic 1-4 in 2003.

Meanwhile, Spain will host Italy in a play-off to rejoin the World Group in September.

The International Tennis Federation drew the eight match-ups for the September 22-24 play-offs.

Spain, champions in 2000 and 2004, were upset 4-1 by Belarus in the first round of this year's tournament.

It was the second straight year Spain had lost in the first round after being eliminated by Slovakia in 2005.

In other play-offs, it's: Brazil vs Sweden, Switzerland vs Serbia-Montenegro, Austria vs Mexico, Netherlands vs Czech Republic, Romania vs South Korea and Slovakia vs Belgium.

Roddick advances

nIn Houston, Texas, top seed Andy Roddick advanced to the second round of the ATP US Clay Court Championships on Tuesday but fellow American and second seed James Blake was a surprise loser.

Defending champion Roddick eliminated Chile's Paul Capdeville 6-3, 6-2 while French qualifier Antony Dupuis ousted Blake 7-6 (7/2) 3-6 6-1 in another first round match at the French Open tune-up event.

Blake fought back after a first-set loss but had nothing left at the end against Dupuis, who will next face Spain's Fernando Vicente.

Another seed to fall in his first match was number eight Juan Monaco of Argentina, who lost 6-2 1-6 7-6 (7/5) decision to US wild card Mardy Fish. Germany's Rainer Schuettler beat Luxembourgs Gilles Muller 6-0 6-3.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation