Melbourne, Sept 19: Switzerland prepare to face Australia in their Davis Cup semi-final. Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is gearing up for three days of action in Switzerland's Davis Cup semi-final against Australia this weekend with two tough singles matches either side of a doubles encounter. The Swiss players are hoping for loud support from Swiss fans in the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena centre court at Melbourne Park. Federer, the world number three starts his busy schedule in the second singles rubber on Friday against Mark Philippoussis in a rematch of their Wimbledon final.

In Thursday's draw, Australia's former world number one Lleyton Hewitt learned that he would open the tie against world number 127 Michel Kratochvil in the afternoon, before Federer and Philippoussis face off in the early evening.


Federer's schedule concludes with a reverse singles rubber against Hewitt on Sunday, before Philippoussis takes on Kratochvil.


On Saturday, Wayne Arthurs will partner Todd Woodbridge in the doubles rubber against Federer and Swiss captain Marc Rosset, who also teamed up in the April quarter-final victory over France.


World number 15 Philippoussis said: "I learnt a lot from that match (Wimbledon final in July).


"If he's leading, he gets on a roll and he gets tougher and tougher.


"I'm not really known for my fast starts. Hopefully tomorrow I can just try to get up early and keep the pressure on from the start."


Swiss captain Marc Rosset said Federer's three matches would not be a problem.


Australia Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said he was not surprised the Swiss were asking so much of their top player.


Switzerland have reached the final only once, losing to the U.S. 3-1 in 1992, while Australia have won 27 titles and been a finalist another 19 times.Federer, 22, won all three of his rubbers against France.


World number seven Hewitt said he was expecting a tough match despite the difference in rankings. Kratochvil said the pressure would be on favourite Hewitt in the opening rubber of the tie.


Bureau Report