Wawrinka spearheads Swiss, Czechs seek third title

Paris: Stanislas Wawrinka, hotfoot from his Australian Open triumph, turns his mind to affairs of national importance this weekend as he leads Switzerland into battle against last season's beaten finalists Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group first round.

In last Sunday's final in Melbourne, the new world number three captured his first Grand Slam title with a four-set upset of Rafael Nadal.

Wawrinka told the Melbourne crowd he was looking forward to the tie against the weakened Serbs - as long as he survived his victory party.

"Davis Cup, it's really important for me. I'm really proud. It's a big honour to play for my country....

"I don't know how I'm going to get there exactly, if I'm still going to be alive after tonight, but I'm going to go there... There's a big chance I get drunk tonight...."

Nadal, the world number one, is one of a clutch of stars missing from this weekend's opening salvoes of the venerable 114-year-old competition.

While Nadal and world number five David Ferrer skip Spain's tie with Germany in Frankfurt, Serbia must face Wawrinka's Switzerland without Novak Djokovic.

The Swiss in contrast are looking strong as along with the in-form Wawrinka they boast Roger Federer, who confirmed his presence on Wednesday.

Argentina meanwhile face Italy without their top player, Juan Martin Del Potro, knocked out in the second round at Melbourne.

Djokovic had already signalled his intention not to play at Novi Sad before his quarter-final loss to Wawrinka last week.

With Janko Tipsarevic (injured) and Viktor Troicki (suspended) also out Serb captain Bogdan Obradovic is fielding untested youngsters Dusan Lajovic, Filip Krajinovic and Ilija Bozoljac with veteran Nenad Zimonjic set to play in the doubles.

In Ostrava, world number seven Thomas Berdych, a semi-final victim of Wawrinka's last week, leads the Czechs into battle against the Dutch, returning to the Davis Cup fast lane for the first time since 2009.