Federer, Wawrinka Win Rubbers For Swiss; Hewitt Breaks Australian Milestone

© Getty ImagesRoger Federer has a combined 42-14 record for Switzerland in Davis Cup ties.

ATPWorldTour.com reviews the eight Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-off ties on Friday.

NETHERLANDS 0, SWITZERLAND 2
Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Netherlands (clay – outdoor)
World No. 1 Roger Federer recorded his 31st win in 38 singles rubbers for Switzerland when he beat Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 42 minutes. Federer hit 57 winners and committed just 17 unforced errors. Stanislas Wawrinka backed up Federer's victory with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Robin Haase.

GERMANY 1, AUSTRALIA 1
Rothenbaum Stadium, Hamburg, Germany (clay – outdoor)
Lleyton Hewitt became Australia’s most-capped Davis Cup player when he played his 32nd tie, but Florian Mayer spoiled the occasion with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 victory to level Germany. Hewitt dropped to a 49-15 record in Davis Cup play. Earlier, World No. 42 Bernard Tomic converted six of 16 break points to beat Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the first singles rubber.

JAPAN 1, ISRAEL 1
Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan (hard – outdoor)
Go Soeda got the host nation off to a strong start with a 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Israel’s Dudi Sera. Amir Weintraub capitalised on Kei Nishikori’s late withdrawal for Japan when he defeated Tatsuma Ito 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the second singles rubber. Nishikori pulled out of the rubber with a shoulder problem.

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BELGIUM 2, SWEDEN 0
Royal Primerose Tennis Club, Brussels, Belgium (clay – outdoor)
David Goffin and Steve Darcis have given Belgium a 2-0 lead after singles wins. Darcis swept past Michael Ryderstedt 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-0 in two hours and three minutes, while Goffin hit 46 winners to beat Swede Andreas Vinciguerra, who hadn’t played competitively since July 2011, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 in the second singles rubber.

ITALY 1, CHILE 0
Tennis Club Napoli, Napoli, Italy (clay – outdoor)
Italian Andreas Seppi defeated World No. 289 Guillermo Hormazabal of Chile 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and 42 minutes to give the hosts the lead. Fabio Fognini and Paul Capdeville are locked at 2-6, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-1, 1-1 after three hours and 36 minutes of play, when bad light stopped the rubber.

KAZAKHSTAN 1, UZBEKISTAN 1
National Tennis Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan (clay – indoor)
Kazakhstan, bidding to stay in the World Group for the third straight year, had Mikhail Kukushkin to thank after day one. Kukushkin overcame World No. 308 Farrukh Dustov 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) in two hours and 52 minutes. In the first singles rubber, World No. 34 Denis Istomin overcame Evgeny Korolev 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3.

CANADA 2, SOUTH AFRICA 0
Uniprix Stadium, Montreal, Canada (hard – outdoor)
World No. 15 Milos Raonic put Canada ahead 2-0 against South Africa with a 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 win over Nikala Scholtz. Raonic fired 26 aces and did not face a break point. Canadian Vasek Pospisil defeated Izak Van der Merwe 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and six minutes to win the first point.

BRAZIL 2, RUSSIA 0
Harmonia Tenis Clube, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, BRA (clay – outdoor)
Brazil is one win away from securing a place in next year's World Group. Thomaz Bellucci defeated Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 7-6(4), while Rogerio Dutra Silva led Igor Andreev 6-2, 6-1 in the first singles rubber before the Russian retired.