Ferrer wins to keep Spain in contention

Switzerland and Spain ended the opening day of their Davis Cup world group first-round tie all square following singles victories for Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli and Spain's David Ferrer. Chiudinelli, ranked 137th in the world, gave Switzerland an...

Switzerland and Spain ended the opening day of their Davis Cup world group first-round tie all square following singles victories for Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli and Spain's David Ferrer.

Chiudinelli, ranked 137th in the world, gave Switzerland an unexpected early lead after downing Spanish world number 33 Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 in the first rubber.

Ferrer, the world number 15, then restored order with a routine 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over Swiss Davis Cup debutant Stephane Bohli.

Yesterday's match-ups were influenced by two late team changes with Verdasco named as a late replacement for Spanish world number two Rafael Nadal and Bohli coming in for Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

Wawrinka, the world number 32, was forced to withdraw on Thursday after tearing a knee ligament in training, while Nadal pulled out with a suspected muscle strain just one hour before his scheduled meeting with Chiudinelli.

Yesterday's results: Switzerland vs Spain 1-1; Austria vs Argentina 0-2; Chile vs Russia 0-2; Belgium vs Australia 0-2; Germany vs Croatia 1-1; France vs Romania 2-0; Czech Rep. vs US 1-1; Belarus vs Sweden 0-2.

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