Federer relishing Davis Cup challenge

Roger Federer has shrugged off jet-lag and is relishing Switzerland's Davis Cup clash against Romania, the newly-crowned Australian Open champion said on Wednesday.

"I did not recover completely after the Australian travel," Federer told reporters after arriving in Bucharest on Wednesday. "But I did a full training session this morning and feel good.

"I'm confident that we can eventually defeat Romania to book a place in the quarter-finals," he added.

The three-day tie will be played on an indoor clay court built especially for the occasion and captain Florin Segarceanu said it should give his team the advantage.

Federer, however, made light of the surface.

"The court is good, very good," Federer said after his first training. "Romania and Switzerland will play good tennis there."

Switzerland, semi-finalists last year, have never won the Davis Cup but Federer's soaring success has raised hopes that they can go all the way.

Romania have a fine pedigree though, reaching the final three times in the 70s, and top-ranked player Andrei Pavel is confident they can oust the Swiss.

"Why not?", Pavel, the world number 53, told reporters. "Romania have a balanced team, probably the best in 15 years."

On rankings alone Pavel's confidence is justified. His team mate Victor Hanescu, who is expected to be the second singles player, is ranked 72, higher than Swiss squad members Mark Rosset (123), Michel Kratochvil (147) and Stanislas Wawrinka (162).

"We have enough chances to snatch two points against the Swiss number two... so, the encounter in the doubles will be decisive in this case," Pavel said.

Swiss captain Rosset disagreed.

"Statistics are not important in a Davis Cup match," he said. "The team's spirit remains the most important, and Swiss players are a homogeneous team."

Much will depend on Federer's recovery from winning his second Grand Slam title in Melbourne at the weekend -- a factor Pavel believes gives him a chance of a causing an upset.

"Federer showed he was in great shape but I think he cannot recover 100 percent in such a short time after he played the Australian Open final," Pavel said.

"He might be too enthusiastic after his amazing win in Australia. If I were him, I would fly with joy."