Danai Udomchoke has the daunting task of playing German No 1 Tommy Haas when the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs begin this afternoon in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The Thai, who made his first quarter-final appearance in an ATP tournament in Beijing last week, will have to summon all of his resources to challenge the world No 14 who is ranked 99 places above him.

"I have never played him before but he has powerful groundstrokes. I am definitely the underdog going into the match but I won't make it easy for him," said Danai, who is scheduled to face his marquee opponent at 4.30pm today.

Danai and Thai No 1 Paradorn Srichaphan landed in the German city on Wednesday and had only one practice session. They had only one day to get acquainted with the slow European clay, a surface the Thais detest and are most vulnerable on.

"The court is quite slow but I think I can adjust to it before the match. I will be a little nervous as I have to play before Paradorn," said Danai.

Paradorn, who lost to Marcos Baghdatis in the Beijing semi-final and who is 41st on the ATP rankings, plays the second rubber against the 53rd-ranked Florian Mayer. Although he is ranked higher, Paradorn feels this should not be taken into account when it comes to Davis Cup battles.

"Rankings don't mean anything in the Davis Cup as anyone can beat anyone. I think the hosts will have the advantage because they are used to the surface," he said, adding the surface was slippery.

"It's hard to say whether I will win a point for Thailand on the first day. But I will give my best shot," said Paradorn, who is winless on clay this season.

Thailand named Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana for Saturday's doubles rubber against Alexander Waske and Michael Kholmann. The doubles is set for 6.30pm.

Sunday's reverse singles will start with the clash between Paradorn and Haas, followed by Danai versus Mayer. The first team to win three rubbers will earn a spot in the World Group next year and the loser will go into the qualifying zone.

Safin opens against A-Rod

n US Open finalist Andy Roddick will take on big-serving Russian Marat Safin in the opening rubber of the Davis Cup World Group semi-final starting today.

Safin, ranked 72nd, faces a tough task against the world No 6 as he bids to give the hosts a valuable first point in their quest to break their duck against the Americans.

The United States won 3-2 both of their previous meetings with Russia including an epic 1995 final here when Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi joined forces.

Roddick has a 3-2 record against former world No 1 Safin who showed sparks of his old form by reaching the fourth round of the US Open after an injury blighted 2005 and a difficult start to the season.

Safin will be followed on court by team-mate Mikhail Youzhny, who achieved the best performance of his career by reaching the US Open semi-finals, and meets ninth-ranked James Blake for the first time.

Russian skipper Shamil Tarpishchev is hoping his side will find their feet on the slow red claycourts at Moscow's Olympic Stadium.

"The Americans are serving stronger than our players," he said.

"We are hoping that claycourts will pull that advantage level."

Safin has a good track record on the surface.

He reached the French Open final in 2002 and the same year led Russia to a first ever Davis Cup win over France on the surface in Paris.

Youzhny won the deciding rubber in that contest.

Another Russian squad member Nikolay Davydenko reached the semi-final at Roland Garros in 2005.

Americans Roddick and Blake have by contrast struggled at the top level on clay with the visitors counting on the doubles ability of the Bryan twins Mike and Bob who take on Dmitry Tursunov and Youzhny tomorrow.

The reverse singles will finalise the match programme on Sunday as both sides look to reach the final against the winner of the other semi-final between Argentina and Australia in Buenos Aires.

Former world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt has been named alongside Australian team-mates Mark Philippoussis and doubles specialists Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley for the tie with the draw to be made later yesterday.

David Nalbandian and Jose Acasuso are joined by Augustin Calleri and Juan Ignacio Chela in the Argentine team.

Both countries stand 2-2 in previous meetings with Argentina winning the past two ties in 2002 and 2005.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer will play in three matches when Switzerland face Serbia in the Davis Cup's World Group play-offs.

The top-ranked Swiss, who won his third straight US Open title earlier this month, will play Janko Tipsarevic in the opening singles match today.

"We aren't afraid of anyone. We know we are the favourites," Federer said after yesterday's draw. "That said, we won't underestimate Serbia. They have a strong team."

Tomorrow, Federer will partner with Yves Allegro for the doubles match against Ilia Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic. The reverse singles will pit Federer against Novak Djokovic, while Stanislas Wawrinka faces Tipsarevic.

Switzerland were relegated to the play-offs after losing to Australia in the first round of the World Group. Federer missed that best-of-five series.

"It's always a difficult decision to take. I can allow myself only one Davis Cup tie a year at the moment," Federer said. "For now, as world No 1 my schedule is packed and my programme does not allow me to play Davis Cup in February."

Serbia qualified for the play-offs by beating Britain in April.

"Switzerland is of course the favourite, but we think we have a chance to win this tie and will head onto the court with a lot of heart and giving everything we have in our guts," Djokovic said.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation, Agencies