Tennis

Czechs tied 1-1 with Switzerland

Published Feb. 1, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

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Tomas Berdych won his match Friday to bring defending champion Czech Republic to 1-1 against Switzerland after the opening singles.

The sixth-ranked Berdych eased to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-1 victory over 289th-ranked Henri Laaksonen on an indoor hardcourt at Palexpo Arena.

Earlier, Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka beat Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

Roger Federer is skipping the best-of-five series, while Czech veteran Radek Stepanek is sidelined by injury.

In Saturday's doubles, Wawrinka, the 2008 Olympic champion with Federer, will partner Marco Chiudinelli against Ivo Minar and Jiri Vesely.

The match between Wawrinka and Berdych will open reverse singles on Sunday.

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