Switzerland face a fightback for a return to the 2012 Davis Cup World Group after Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka lost to Australian battlers Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in Saturday’s doubles rubber.
The result leaves Australia in 2-1 command on grass with the tie to be decided in Sunday’s reverse singles.
Hewitt, playing a limited schedule this year due to the effects of foot surgery, rediscovered enough of his fighting spirit to help nose his nation over the line in two and a quarter hours at the Royal Sydney Golf Club against the reigning Beijing Olympic gold medallists.
The Swiss lifted the opening set in half an hour before the hosts found their form and began the recovery effort.
Switzerland will need a Sunday win from Federer against 18-year-old Bernard Tomic in order to keep hopes of Davis Cup promotion alive.
Federer flew to far-away Sydney from the US Open where he lost a week ago in the semi-finals to Novak Djokovic.
In World Group semi-finals in Europe, Argentina lead holder Serbia 2-0 in Belgrade with the hosts missing injured Djokovic while Spain with New York finalist Rafael Nadal finding reserves of energy hold a 2-0 lead over France going into the doubles rubber in Cordoba.
