Federer fitness key for Swiss Davis Cup hopes

Federer fitness key for Swiss Davis Cup hopes Roger Federer needs only to recover from jet-lag to be one of the fittest men on court this weekend in Sydney as Switzerland step onto grass in a Davis Cup tie for the first time in nearly 2 decades.

With the winning side guaranteed a return to the elite World Group for 2012, it's all on the line. But despite flying from New York via Dubai and arriving just two days before the Friday start of play, Federer is sure to be a pivotal figure in the competition.

His teammate Stan Wawrinka is nursing a leg injury from the US open, though likely to be picked as expected as second singles behind 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer.

But Australia may have some concerns about Davis war-horse Lleyton Hewitt, who is always ready to fight off injury to play for his country. The 30-year-old who missed New York which he won a decade ago is making a laboured return from a spring toe operation and can make no promises..

"I wouldn't be putting a lot of money that I will be playing anything after this event," he warned. "Right at the moment, I'm just focusing on getting through this tie."