Federer wins, takes Swiss to Davis Cup world group

With Spain and the Czech Republic already assured of meeting in this year's final, Sunday's play in Murcia and the Croatian town of Porec didn't affect the overall result.

Spain eventually beat Israel 4-1 and the Czechs beat the Croats by the same score after Sunday's meaningless reverse singles. That meant the focus was more on teams trying to climb the ladder of men's team tennis.

With Switzerland facing Italy for a place in the world group, top-ranked Federer kept his focus through a two-hour rain delay in Genoa before completing a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory which gave his side an unbeatable 3-1 lead.

“It was a tough weekend for us and I'm happy I could help Switzerland win,” said Federer, whose bid for a sixth straight U.S. Open title ended with a loss in the final at New York earlier this month. “I was able to play very well.

“I have to go on holiday badly. I have a problem with my leg, I have a problem with my arm - everything is hurting.”

Fabio Fognini of Italy beat Michael Lammer 7-5, 7-6 (4) in the final singles match to make the final score 3-2.

Murray had a problem with his left wrist although it was the lack of a strong playing partner against Poland that sent Britain down to the third tier of the competition — Europe/Africa Zone Group II — for the first time since 1996.

Murray won his match 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 against Polish teenager Jerzy Janowicz to make it 2-2 in Liverpool. But Poland won the match 3-2 after Michal Przysiezny outplayed Dan Evans 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 and that meant the Poles stay in Group 1, one level below the world group.

Belgium reached the world group by beating Ukraine 3-2, France outplayed the Netherlands 4-1 and India beat South Africa 4-1 and Sweden edged Romania 3-2.

Serbia was already sure of winning its place after leading Uzbekistan 3-0 after Saturday's doubles and wound up 5-0 winners after Sunday's singles.

Chile made it to the World Group after a dramatic 3-2 win over Austria, with 2004 Olympic champion Nicolas Massu clinching it for the hosts in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) final match victory over Stefan Koubek that lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes.

Austria lost both the opening singles matches but Jurgen Melzer helped level it at 2-2 by winning the doubles with Julian Knowle and beating Paul Capdeville in the first of the reverse singles.

Ecuador secured its win over Brazil when Nicolas Lapentti beat Marcos Daniel 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6 to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. Thomaz Bellucci won an inconsequential fifth match to reduce the margin to 3-2.

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