Champions Spain make losing start
Date published :
05 Mar 2010 - 17:38:00
Spain suffered the worst possible start to their Davis Cup defence with defeat in the first rubber of their World Group tie against Switzerland.
A tie between the nations who boast the top two players in the world - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were both absent - began with a clash between the world numbers 40 and 19.
And it was the higher-ranked player, Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka, who came out on top in a marathon encounter in Logrono, beating Nicolas Almagro 3-6 6-4 3-6 7-5 6-3.
It was an impressive effort from Wawrinka, who had not played a competitive match in six weeks following the birth of his daughter Alexia.
Russia moved to the brink of victory against India in Moscow, establishing a 2-0 lead after the first day's singles matches.
First, Igor Kunitsyn came from a set down to beat Somdev Devvarman 6-7 (6/8) 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-4.
"It was an exciting match," Kunitsyn, ranked 107, told www.daviscup.com. "It's the first time I ever opened a Davis Cup tie for Russia, the first time I ever played a live singles match, it was a day of firsts for me."
Mikhail Youzhny then showed his class in a 6-4 6-2 6-3 demolition of Rohan Bopanna.
Elsewhere, Gael Monfils secured his first ever Davis Cup victory, a convincing 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7/5) win over Philipp Kohlschreiber to put France 1-0 up against Germany in Toulon, while the Czech Republic were 1-0 up on Belgium after Tomas Berdych beat Olivier Rochus in straight sets in Bree.
Life was tougher for Ivo Karlovic, though, who needed three hours and 45 minutes to beat Nicolas Lapentti. In a match that ebbed and flowed, the big-serving Croatian prevailed 6-2 5-7 6-7 (2/7) 6-3 6-4 to put his country 1-0 up against Ecuador in Varazdin.
