rogerfederer.com - Switzerland leads 2-0

Switzerland leads 2-0

Switzerland has taken a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup World Group playoff.

Stanislas Wawrinka beat Steve Darcis 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in a four-hour match to give the Swiss the lead. Roger then went on to beat Kristof Vliegen 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-2, improving his career record in Davis Cup singles to 25-6.

Roger went down a break in the first two sets but then managed to come back strong, especially relying on his serve - with a percentage of 73 first services in the field. "Even if I had lost a set, that would not have been the end of the world. But I was a bit nervous before the tie-break in the first set and in the middle of the second. I just knew that it was important to get my game from the baseline together, which I eventually managed to do."

The Swiss pair are scheduled to revive their Olympic partnership in Saturday's doubles rubber against Xavier Malisse and Olivier Rochus, who won the 2004 French Open.