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| September 23, 2006 | Saturday | Sha'aban 29, 1427 |
Federer puts Swiss in front in Davis Cup clash
GENEVA, Sept 22: World number one Roger Federer gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead in their Davis Cup World Group playoff match against Serbia on Friday, dismissing world number 92 Janko Tipsarevic 6-3 6-2 6-2.
Playing for the first time since his U.S. Open win two weeks ago,
Federer was never forced to hit top gear.
Generously applauded by the sympathetic Geneva crowd whenever he got the better of the home favourite, Tipsarevic enjoyed a mini-triumph during the first set when he was able to break Federer's serve.
The Serb was already two breaks down by then, however, and there was no further chance of a fightback with Federer easing to a straightforward victory in one hour and 27 minutes.
Serbia, playing independently from Montenegro for the first time in the Davis Cup, will have strong hopes of levelling the tie in Friday's second rubber when Swiss number two Stanislas Wawrinka, ranked 44th in the world, is set to face Serbian number one and world number 21 Novak Djokovic. - ReutersVolandri beats Robredo to put Italy 1-0 up against Spain.
Volandri puts Italy ahead
SANTANDER (Spain): Filippo Volandri put Italy 1-0 up against Spain in their Davis Cup World Group playoff on Friday, beating world number seven Tommy Robredo 6-3 7-5 6-3.
Volandri, ranked 31 places below his opponent, looked sharper throughout and was quicker into his stride holding on to an early break to take the first set in blustery conditions.
The players twice traded breaks during the second before the 25-year-old Italian broke
Robredo once again to serve out.
Italy have a 7-5 lead over Spain in Davis Cup but lost 3-2 at the same stage, last September.
Safin beats Roddick to put Russia ahead
MOSCOW: Marat Safin crushed Andy Roddick 6-4 6-3 7-6 in the opening singles to give Russia a 1-0 lead against the U.S. in their Davis Cup semi-final on Friday.
Russia's Mikhail Youzhny was playing American James Blake in the second singles rubber. What was billed as a battle between the two former world number ones turned into a mis-match after Safin broke Roddick's formidable serve four times, losing his own only once. —Agencies
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