Australia leads Switzerland in Davis Cup playoff

Australia's Bernard Tomic rallied from a set down to beat Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 on Friday, giving the host nation a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup World Group playoff.

Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tomic converted 81 per cent of his first serves and won all of his second-serve points on the grass court at Royal Sydney Golf Club to close out the opening singles match in two hours 32 minutes.

The No. 28-ranked Wawrinka, recovering from a foot injury sustained at the U.S. Open, made 14 unforced errors in the loss.

Roger Federer resumes his long-running rivalry with Lleyton Hewitt in the second singles match later Friday.