Geneva, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Tomas Berdych beat Stanislas Wawrinka
in Sunday's first reverse singles rubber to give the reigning champion Czech
Republic an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Switzerland in their best-of-five
opening-round Davis Cup tie. The Czechs will face Kazakhstan in April's
quarterfinals.
The world No. 6 Berdych was tested by the 17th-ranked Wawrinka en route to a
6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) decision in 3 hours, 15 minutes on the indoor
hardcourt at Palexpo. Berdych broke Wawrinka's serve three times, while the
disappointed Swiss slugger settled for only two breaks on Day 3.
The former Wimbledon runner-up Berdych and Wawrinka battled in the longest-
ever Davis Cup match on Saturday, when Berdych paired with Lukas Rosol to
outlast a Swiss tandem of Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli in five sets in a
record 7-hour, 2-minute war of attrition, which included an epic 24-22 fifth
set.
A dead rubber between Swiss Henri Laaksonen and Czech Jiri Vesely is currently
in progress.
Switzerland played without the legendary Roger Federer this week, as the 17-
time Grand Slam champion opted against playing for his country this time
around.
The Czech Republic, which beat Spain in last year's Davis Cup final, is now
2-1 all-time versus Switzerland and has won their last two meetings.
The Sports Network