Switzerland's spot in next year's Davis Cup World Group with a 6-3 6-0 6-4 win over Italy's Potito Starace in a rain-affected match on Sunday. His commanding victory, peppered with effortless winners from the baseline, gave the Swiss team an unassailable 3-1 lead in the World Group playoff.
The world number one looked comfortable back on clay following his first French Open title in June, coping well with light drizzle in the first set and a long rain delay at 4-0 in the second.
Federer lost the US Open final to Juan Martin Del Potro on Monday before flying back to Europe and beating Simone Bolelli 6-3 6-4 6-1 in Friday's second singles rubber, putting the visitors 2-0 up. He was rested for Saturday's doubles match won by Italy but came back refreshed to polish off Potito, who had won all of his previous 10 Davis Cup singles.
Spain beat Israel 4-1
MADRID: Spain completed a 4-1 win over Israel in their Davis Cup semi-final in Murcia on Sunday after the teams secured a win apiece in the reverse singles.
Victories for David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero on Friday and a win in Saturday's doubles had already put the Spanish through to their fifth final in 10 years, a home clash against Czech Republic on December 4-6.
On Sunday David Ferrer beat Andy Ram 6-3 6-1 and Harel Levy defeated Feliciano Lopez 7-5 6-2. Spain, winners in 2000, 2004 and 2008, have won their last 17 home ties and their last 19 on clay and are favourites to win again in December when top-10 pair Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco should return from injury.
In Porec, Czech Republic also recorded a 4-1 victory over Croatia. Jan Hajek eased past Croatia's Roko Karanusic 7-6 6-4 and Lovro Zovko beat Lukas Dlouhy 6-3 6-4 to win a consolation point for Croatia.
Czech Republic are playing in their first Davis Cup final. The former Czechoslovakia beat Italy in the 1980 final.
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