Djokovic swerves Sweden
World number one won't face Sweden in Davis Cup
Last Updated: January 31, 2012 6:10pm
Novak Djokovic: Won't face Sweden in Davis Cup
Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will not play for Serbia in the first round of this year's Davis Cup.
When Serbia announced their team ahead of Tuesday's deadline, the world number one, who also missed last year's first round, was not on their list.
The 2010 winners will instead by led against Sweden in Nis by world number nine Janko Tipsarevic. Viktor Troicki, Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic make up the side.
Meanwhile, defending champions Spain will be without all four of their 2011 final-winning team when they host Kazakhstan.
With the likes of Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer opting to miss this year's competition due to a busy calendar which includes the Olympics, new captain Alex Corretja is forced to name a completely different line-up.
The side will be led by Nicolas Almagro with support from Marcel Granollers, former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero and doubles specialist Marc Lopez.
Arguably the tie of the first round is Switzerland v USA in Fribourg.
Roger Federer will play in a full-strength Swiss side also featuring Stanislas Wawrinka.
The American, who last won the cup in 2007, pick Mardy Fish, John Isner, Ryan Harrison and Mike Bryan. Bob Bryan is absent with his wife about to give birth.
Strong
Australian open quarter-finalist Tomas Berdych will lead the Czech Republic in their home meeting with Italy, while Tommy Haas will return to Germany's side when they entertain last year's runners-up Argentina.
The former world number two last played in the competition in 2007. Florian Mayer, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Philipp Petzschner make up the squad.
The Argentines are without their top player in Juan Martin Del Potro so their squad is comprised of Juan Ignacio Chela, Juan Monaco, David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank.
France take a strong squad to Canada.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils are set to play singles, with Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra their likely doubles pairing. Rising star Milos Raonic will lead the home bid.
Russia travel to Austria with new recruit Alex Bogomolov set to make his debut. He previously played under the US flag but switched his allegiance to Russia in December.
In the other first-round tie, Kei Nishikori leads Japan in their first World Group contest for 27 years. They host Croatia in Hyogo.
