体坛英语新闻：Federer, Djokovic could play Davis Cup in South African this year

JOHANNESBURG, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A comprehensive resume of possible play-offs for next year's elite Davis Cup World Group released by the International Tennis Federation on Thursday has raised the distinct prospect of charismatic world number two and three tennis icons Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic playing in South Africa this year.

And while the intriguing proposition might be something of a long shot at this juncture, the proposition, particularly in the case of Djokovic - nicknamed "The Djoker" for his humorous, on-court antics - is certainly on the cards.

    In order to set the mouth-watering prospect in motion, South Africa will first need to beat a modest Belarus in a Euro-Africa Group One play-off, which is likely to be staged at Emperors Palace from May 8 to 10.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball against Rafael Nadal of Spain during the men's singles final at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Feb. 1, 2009.

    This would earn South Africa a place in the World Group play-offs for 2010, with a match-up against one of the eight seeded countries, who will almost certainly be Sweden, Australia or India, France, Serbia, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and one other nation from Japan, Peru, Brazil and Romania.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to France's Gilles Simon during the semifinals of the Dubai Championships in United Arab Emirates, Feb. 27, 2009. Inset: Simon reacts after missing a return from Djokovic.

ITF Communications official Neil Robinson disclosed that should South Africa earn a World Group play-off against Sweden, Serbia, India, Chile, Ecuador or India, the tie would take place in South Africa - with Djokovic almost certain to make himself available for the Serbian squad.

    If South Africa were drawn against either Australia, Austria, Romania or Colombia in the play-offs, the tie would be an away fixture.

    "Because there have been no Davis Cup meetings since 1970 between South Africa and France, Switzerland, Japan, Belgium, Peru, Brazil, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan and Ukraine," added Robinson, "the venue in this instance would be decided by a subsequent draw."

    And this is where Federer comes into the picture should South Africa be drawn at home against Switzerland, with the 13-times grand slam winner regularly coming to the rescue of his country when they are in danger of losing their World Group status - even when declining to play in actual World Group matches.

    "Based on current projections," said Robinson, "there is little chance of South Africa being seeded for the World Group play-offs, so this is how matters are shaping right now."

    The worst scenario for South Africa, in the circumstances, would be an away World Group play-off against a Federer-boosted Switzerland or the all-powerful French line-up of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Giles Simon, Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet in Paris.

    Conversely, South Africa could be drawn against the line-up of French Musketeers in South Africa - creating the prospect of another potential tennis bonanza.