Switzerland’s Davis Cup reign ends swiftly

LONDON (Reuters) – Switzerland’s reign as Davis Cup holders was ended in a hurry when it paid the inevitable price for fielding a second-string team that lost 3-2 to Belgium in the first round in Liege on Sunday. Just over three months since Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka drove the Swiss to an historic title in Lille, it was a different story without the big two as they became the first champions in 10 years to fall at the first hurdle. Federer and Wawrinka had chosen to stand aside after achieving their ambitions and the stand-ins were not able to upset the odds against much higher-ranked players despite a heroic effort from 22-year-old Henri Laaksonen. The world No. 344 leveled the tie at 2-2 with a 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 win over Steve Darcis, a player ranked 242 places higher and his second five-set win of the weekend. Switzerland’s hopes, though, were extinguished in the deciding rubber when David Goffin, the world No. 21 who was rested on Friday because of concerns over a back injury, proved too good for number 321 Adrien Bossel and won 6-4, 6-0, 6-4. Belgium will now take on Canada in the quarterfinals after Vasek Pospisil beat Go Soeda of Japan 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in the first reverse singles match on Sunday to secure victory for the Canadians, before Kei Nishikori went on to beat Milos Raonic for the tie to finish 3-2. Elsewhere, for the second year running Andy Murray led Britain to a first-round victory over the United States when he beat John Isner 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(4) in Glasgow. In the quarterfinals, Britain will face a home tie against France, which beat Germany with a day to spare. Italy, who beat Britain in the quarters last year, went down to Kazakhstan as Aleksandr Nedovyesov, ranked 130th in the world, stunned No. 22 Fabio Fognini in five sets to seal a 3-2 victory. Kazakhstan next travel to former Davis Cup heavyweight Australia, which enjoyed a 3-1 victory over 2012 and 2013 winner Czech Republic. Australia is through to the last eight for the first time since 2006. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s Serbia crushed Croatia 5-0 and next faces four-time finalist Argentina, which reached the quarters when Federico Delbonis beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 7-5 on the fourth day of an epic tie against Brazil to seal a 3-2 win on Monday.