Swiss maestro Roger Federer came back from losing the first set to see off an inspired Lleyton Hewitt and level the Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Australia on Friday. Playing on grass at the Royal Sydney Golf Club, 18-year-old Bernard Tomic gave the home side an early lead when he beat Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
Federer then found himself under enormous pressure after losing the first set to a typically dogged Hewitt and going down a break early in the second. But the world number three dug deep to break back and win the set on a tiebreak before pulling away to win 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-3. Hewitt struggled to hold serve throughout the opener and never looked like breaking Federer until he seized his chance at 5-5, pouncing on loose play from the Swiss legend to take the advantage