Roger Federer restored normal service for Switzerland after the disheartening defeat of teammate Stanislaw Wawrinka, pulling the hosts level 1-1 with Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup World Group tennis quarter-final on Friday.
Federer crushed Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4 6-4 6-2 in less than two hours after Australian Open winner Wawrinka lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-5) in a marathon to Kazakh outsider Andrey Golubev.
“I’m really disappointed with myself,” said Wawrinka. “But I have to give Golubev credit, he played well. He found a way.
“I was not aggressive enough with my game. But that’s the first match, I have to accept it and be ready for tomorrow and the rest of the weekend,” Wawrinka said.
“There is always pressure when you play at home for your country. I have to deal with it.”
Federer was optimistic: “At 1-1, the tie starts now,” said the world number four.
“It was good for me not to waste any energy, since I see myself playing all three days. I trust that Stan will also be fighting to the end.”
In Naples, an exhausted Andy Murray was given a reprieve for the evening as light faded with his second rubber against Italian Andreas Seppi standing 6-4 5-5 in Murray’s favour but the British 1-0 down in the tie.
Murray saved four set points in the second set, with his first-serve coming good at just the right moments.
But the Scot, who suffered with stomach trouble, looked to be fighting for fitness at times.
Italy’s Fabio Fognini played through the pain barrier in a 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-1 win over James Ward to give the hosts the 1-0 edge on heavy clay following morning rain.
Fognini, who has been troubled by a thigh injury, said he put in just an average performance.
“I didn’t feel great about my tennis today but mentally I was very strong. I felt pain but after two sets (he was treated in the second) but then I felt better.
“This victory is not just for me but for all Italian tennis. I have to recover well and be ready if I play tomorrow.”
Germany led France in Nancy 1-0 thanks to a win by number 96 Tobias Kamke over Julien Benneteau 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 6-2.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was attempting to level for France as he played untried substitute Peter Gojowczyk, a last resort for a German team missing Tommy Haas, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer.
In Tokyo, Radek Stepanek came through on schedule for holders the Czech Republic, opening with a defeat of Tatsuma Ito 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 7-5 to set the pace for a 2-0 day one scoreline as compatriot Lukas Rosol gathered his resources to stop New York-born Taro Daniel 6-4 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-2.
Stepanek and Tomas Berdych – who will only play home ties this season – have sparked the nation to the last two Davis titles, with the pair playing every match in the 2012 and 2013 finals.
The 35-year-old Stepanek got off 18 aces as he put down an initial challenge from number 146 Ito, winning in just under four hours at the Ariake Colosseum.
Japan are playing without top man Kei Nishikori, out with a groin injury.
