AFP, Paris :
Roger Federer saved Stanislas Wawrinka’s blushes after the Australian Open champion suffered a shock defeat to unheralded Kazakh Andrey Golubev in the Davis Cup quarter-finals on Friday.
The world number three was stunned 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) by 64th ranked Golubev as Kazakhstan took an early 1-0 lead over the Swiss in Geneva.
But 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer then stormed to a straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over Mikhail Kukushkin to level the tie.
Golubev’s victory, achieved in just under three and a quarter hours, revived bad memories for Wawrinka who lost both his matches-a singles and a doubles rubber-in a 5-0 whitewash victory for Kazakhstan over Switzerland in Astana in 2010.
“I know you’re going to consult all the sports psychologists to find out why I lost to Golubev,” said Wawrinka wryly.
“It came down to a few points that made the difference, which he was able to play freely.”
An understated Golubev said after one of his biggest career wins: “It was a great match I think for me.
“The key was to try and be aggressive and not to give him too much time. I think I did good.”
Federer, the world number four, kept his cool to record a second stright-sets win over 56th-ranked Kukushkin in as many meetings, having beaten the Kazakh in the first round of Wimbledon in 2011.
“It was important to stay calm. I was well concentrated, felt good in my legs and served well,” said Federer.
Czechs on top in Japan – Title-holders Czech Republic took a 2-0 lead over Japan in Tokyo.
Despite missing world number five Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol claimed battling victories over a weakened Japan team, who are without talisman Kei Nishikori due to injury while Go Soeda has a virus. Stepanek beat Tatsuma Ito 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 7-5 in the opening rubber while Rosol then overcame Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2.
“I’m very happy to be at 2-0,” Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil told reporters. “They had nothing to lose and in the end of both matches we were a little bit lucky.”
