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| Roger Federer © Gallo Images |
Roger Federer guided Switzerland into the Davis Cup world group
on Sunday while Andy Murray was unable to stop Britain tumbling
further down among the outsiders.
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 US
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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