Switzerland take two-point lead in Davis Cup tie

Bastl overcomes the serve-volley specialist, Mirnyi, in straight sets Keystone

Switzerland have made a good start in their Davis Cup tie against Belarus - an encounter the team has to win to stay in the elite 16-nation group of the Davis Cup. George Bastl scored the first point of the tie while Roger Federer secured the second.

Bastl comfortably defeated Max Mirnyi in straight sets. His countryman, Federer, had to struggle longer and harder for his win.

Federer beat Belarus’ Vladimir Voltchkov after five gruelling sets in the second singles game in the best of five qualifier. The Swiss teenager lost the first set 4-6, but recovered enough to take the second 7-5, and the third 7-6 (1).

Voltchkov won the fourth set 5-7, but ran out of steam allowing Federer to take it 6-2.

The first singles game of the tie saw Bastl overcome Mirnyi, ranked 59th in the ATP, after three sets and tie breaker.

After winning the first set 6-4, the Swiss player was only troubled once when facing a set point in the second. But after winning that point and the subsequent tie-break, he strolled through the third set, winning it 6-2.

Switzerland now needs to win one more match if it is to secure its place in the Davis Cup first division. If Belarus can dislodge Switzerland, the two teams will trade places, with the Swiss moving down to the Euro/African zonal group, the second-rate division. After their narrow defeat against Australia, the Swiss need a victory to stave off relegation.

The Swiss have been weakened by the withdrawal of their number one, Marc Rosset, who is involved in a long-running dispute with Hlasek. Rosset was stripped of his captaincy when Hlasek took charge of the team last year.

If the Swiss lose against Belarus, there could be a further confrontation between Rosset and Hlasek, analysts say. Rosset led most of the Davis Cup team in a revolt against Hlasek last year, but support for him crumbled as the players prepared to face Australia in February.

The venue in Sankt Gallen strikes a chord in Swiss memories. The last time they played a Davis Cup tie there was in 1988 when the Swiss team lost 3-2 to Mexico and were relegated from the tennis top flight.

swissinfo with agencies