Switzerland must travel to Italy in September to try to keep their spot in the top tier of the Davis Cup, the top international team event in men's tennis.

Italy and Switzerland were drawn on Tuesday to face each other in the World Group playoffs. Italy is the home team for the September 18-20 best-of-five series.

Switzerland lost 4-1 to the United States in the opening round in Birmingham, Alabama, in March after world number two Roger Federer pulled out with a bad back.

Italy beat Slovakia 4-1 in a Europe/Africa zonal group match to qualify for the World Group playoffs.

Federer, winner of 13 grand slam titles, hasn't announced whether he plans to play in September.

The eight playoff winners advance to the 2010 16-team World Group, while the losers go into the zonal groups for next year.

Switzerland won their previous encounter against Italy 3-2. That was in Neuchâtel in 1999, with a young Federer winning his Davis Cup debut against Davide Sanguinetti.

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