World number two Roger Federer [ Images ] recovered from a shaky start to see off Kristof Vliegen and hand Switzerland [ Images ] a 2-0 lead over Belgium in their Davis Cup playoff tie on Friday.

The US Open [ Images ] champion was forced to a tie-break in the first set and went 3-0 down in the second before recovering to win his singles rubber 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.

• Spain lead US | Argentina lead Russia

"I was worried going into the first set tiebreak, I was worried midway through the second set," Federer told reporters.

"I always thought if my game comes together from the baseline, then I would always be the overwhelming favourite and that is exactly what happened."

Stanislas Wawrinka earlier defeated Belgium's Steve Darcis 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Australia [ Images ], champions 28 times, found themselves 2-0 down away to Chile after a dismal first day in Antofagasta.

Nicolas Massu [ Images ] shrugged off his poor recent form to beat Chris Guccione 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2) in just under four hours before Fernando Gonzalez [ Images ] beat Peter Luczak 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in a fraction under two.

Andy Murray [ Images ] swept aside Alexander Peya in straight sets to level against Austria, after Jurgen Melzer [ Images ] had fought back from one set and 4-1 down to beat Britain's Alex Bogdanovic in the tie's first rubber.

Murray, the world number four after reaching the US Open final, signed off with a choking gesture in a response to pre-match comments from Melzer.

"I was told I wasn't going to handle the pressure very well but Jurgen (Melzer) was the one who struggled a little more than me today," Murray said on court after the match.

World number three Novak Djokovic [ Images ] set Serbia on the way to a 2-0 lead over Slovakia with a straightforward 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Dominik Hrbaty before Janko Tipsarevic [ Images ] came from two sets behind to beat Lukas Lacko 6-7 (3-7), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 8-6.

Croatia [ Images ] established a commanding lead over Brazil [ Images ] after Mario Ancic and Ivo Karlovic [ Images ] beat Thomaz Bellucci and Thiago Alves.

India [ Images ] will have to win all three remaining rubbers if they are to progress after Victor Crivoi and Victor Hanescu both won convincingly to give Romania a 2-0 lead.

Peru and South Korea finished the day level in their ties against Israel and Netherlands respectively.

In the doubles rubbers on Saturday, Switzerland's Olympic [ Images ] doubles champions Federer and Wawrinka could reunite against Belgium while Britain coach John Lloyd must decide whether to pair Andy Murray with brother Jamie against Austria.