GENEVA — Roger Federer ended speculation over his Davis Cup plans Tuesday and announced he will play for Switzerland against the United States next March.
It will be the first time in five years that the 13-time Grand Slam singles winner has broken up his early season schedule for the Davis Cup.
“I am excited to once again join my fellow Swiss teammates, who I have a great friendship with,” Federer said on his website. “I look forward to what I am sure will be a tough weekend.”
The World Group first-round series will be played March 6-8 in the U.S. at a venue to be chosen by the United States Tennis Association in the next six weeks.
Federer helped Switzerland rejoin the elite World Group when it beat Belgium last month.
He beat Kristof Vliegen in straight sets and then teamed up with Stanislas Wawrinka, his Olympic doubles gold medal-winning partner in Beijing, to win their doubles match.
Federer last played a Davis Cup first-round match in 2004, a victory over Romania in Bucharest.
“We are obviously very pleased that he decided he will be joining the team,” Swiss Tennis spokeswoman Sandra Perez said. “That increases our chances.”
Angels decline option on Anderson.
The Los Angeles Angels will exercise their 2009 options on outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and pitcher John Lackey but will decline their option on outfielder Garret Anderson.
The 36-year-old Anderson, whose option price was $14 million, will receive a $3 million buyout and become eligible for free agency.
The 32-year-old Guerrero will earn $15 million next year. Lackey will earn $9 million in 2009.
• Television ratings for the the 5 1/2 innings that the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays got in Monday night for Game 5 of the World Series received an 8.2 rating and 12 share, Fox said. The previous low for a fifth game was a 10. 0/17 for the San Francisco Giants’ 16-4 romp over the Anaheim Angels in 2002.
Thus far, the World Series has received an 8. 1/14, down 24 percent from the 10. 6/18 for a four-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox over the Rockies last year.
Footnotes.
Diego Maradona was offered a chance to coach Argentina’s soccer team, but he declined to say whether he accepted.
Maradona and Carlos Bilardo were asked to lead the national team by Julio Grondona, head of the country’s soccer association.
“We have to keep talking,” Maradona said. “There are some things to resolve.”
• Erik Compton, who advanced through the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying just five months after his second heart transplant, was given an exemption to play the final tour event of the year.
Compton, 28, received one of four sponsor exemptions to the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Disney World on Nov. 6-9.
It will be his first PGA Tour event in three years.
• Alberto Contador won’t race in the 2009 Giro d’Italia and may also miss the Spanish Vuelta to focus on winning the Tour de France.
The Associated Press
