US dump out Federer’s Switzerland

Roger Federer’s miserable return to Davis Cup first round duty after an eight-year absence continued yesterday when the United States knocked out Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals.

Having lost his first singles match in the tournament in nine years when he was defeated by John Isner on Friday, Federer teamed up with Olympic Games gold medal winning partner Stanislas Wawrinka in the crucial doubles.

But Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish held their nerve after losing the first set to complete a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win to romp to an unassailable 3-0 lead.

On Friday, Federer’s 15-match winning streak in the competition came to an end when he slumped to a shock 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 loss to Isner while Fish had defeated Wawrinka 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 9-7.

The United States, who have won the Davis Cup a record 32 times, will now tackle either France or Canada in April’s quarter-finals.

“It feels great to win. I know what it’s like to lose and that’s not good,” said Fish.

“You always want to play with Mike, he’s one of the best doubles players ever.”

Mike Bryan and Fish were teamed together when Bob Bryan skipped the tie to be with his new-born daughter.

Meanwhile, defending champions Spain reached the last eight for a sixth successive year when they secured an unassailable 3-0 lead over Kazakhstan in their World Group first round tie.

Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez defeated Evgeny Korolev and Yuriy Schukin 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in the doubles to put Spain, without Rafael Nadal, into a last eight clash against either Austria or Russia.

The Czech Republic also made the quarter-finals when Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek eased past Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 for a 3-0 lead over Italy in Ostrava.

In April’s quarter-finals, they will tackle either Serbia or Sweden.

In Tokyo, Ivo Karlovic teamed up with Ivan Dodig to win the doubles as 2005 champions Croatia took a 2-1 lead over Japan in Hyogo.

The country’s number three and four coasted to a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Tatsuma Ito and Yuichi Sugita.

The winners of the tie will face 2011 runners-up Argentina who completed a 3-0 win over Germany in Bamberg when David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank defeated Tommy Haas and Philipp Petzschner 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

World Cup results
Spain lead Kazakhstan 3-0; Austria lead Russia 2-1; Canada vs France 1-1; US lead Switzerland 3-0; Czech Republic lead Italy 3-0; Serbia lead Sweden 2-1; Croatia lead Japan 1-2; Argentina lead Germany 3-0.