LONDON. Apr 3 (Reulers/AP): Davis Cup holders Sweden were left staring defeat in the face after fall-

ing behind 2-0 at home to Slovakia on Friday in the start of their bid to win the coveted trophy for a third successive time.

Last year's beaten finalists Italy also looked like possible first round casualties as they trailed Switzerland 2-0 at Neuchatel.

But a supposedly undermanned United States team thwarted Britain's ambitions in Birmingham when Jim Courier and Todd Marlin scored victories over Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski respectively.

Australia fought back from the defeat of Mark Philippous-sis by Byron Black in the opening match to stand 1 -1 with Zimbabwe in Harare as Patrick Rafter beat Black's brother Wayne in the second singles.

The other four first round ties. Germany v Russia. France v the NethCTl&iiae.' Spain J Brazil and BtfgibM V'Cfddh'RS*' public were all level at 1-1.

In Trollhattan. world number 31 Dominik Hrbaty contributed the most unexpected point for Slovakia with a 7-5, 4-6. 2-6. 6-2. 6-4 victory over 15lh-ranked Swede Thomas Enqvist in a 3-1/2-hour marathon.

Karol Kucera had earlier disposed more easily of Swedish number two Thomas Johansson 6-1. 7-6. 2-6. 6-3.

"We have a good chance to make it to the second round. I said to Karol that he should win only one point and I will win the two other points." Hrbaty said.

The Swedes have not abandoned hope. “I am always opti-misbc. I have a very good team. We are favourites tor the doubles and we will have two very open matches on Sunday." said Swedish captain Carl-Axel Hageskog.

Neuchatel. Davis Cup vet-

eran Marc Rossel and rookie Roger Federer won their opening singles matches to give Switzerland a 2-0 lead over Italy in their World Group first round tie.

Rossel. ranked 27th in the world, opened the Centennial Davis Cup contest with a 7-6, 6-4. 7-6 win over Italy's Gianluca Pozzi, inflaming ihe 2000 fans filling the Littoral Arena.

Feeding off the crowd's energy and displaying the steely nerve of a seasoned veteran. Federer then took the Swiss team to a comfortable 2-0 advantage with a lough-fought 6-4. 6-7. 6-3. 6-4 victory over Italian Davide Sanguinetti.

Though winning in straight sets. Rosset struggled to master a wildly inconsistent serve that earned’him 12 double faults and 16 aces, and finished the match drenched and exhausted.

"I came put OK in a very tight, very tense three-sv't match." Rossel said. "Luckily I was able to constantly keep a small margin and come ,through oft the. big points and increase my level of play when it counted.

"1 was glad it was only three sets, because I’m dead tired."

In contrast. 17-year-old Federer had little difficulty keeping pace in his first career five-set match, and bounced exuberantly into Rosset's arms following his victory.

"At first I was nervous but then 1 calmed down." said Federer. who finished last season as the world No 1-ranked junior player. "I didn't do very well in the tie break and took too many risks.

"But 1 think in the end taking a lot of risks combined with the public s support helped me win.

The Italians are playing without their No 1 player. Andrea Gaudenzi, still recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in the final against Sweden in Milan last December.

On Saturday. Rosset and Lorenzo Manta will team up in

the doubles against Stefano Pescosolido and newcomer Laurence Tielcman in an attempt to end Switzerland's Davis Cup losing streak to Italy.

It 'marks the fourth time that Italy — who lost to Sweden in the final last year — faces Switzerland in Davis Cup play.

The two countries last met in 1980 when Italy won 5-0. extending their perfect record to 3-0 over the Swiss.

Last year. Rossel was responsible for Switzerland's win over the Czech Republic -for a place in the quarterfinals, where it was eliminated by Spain.

In England. Todd Martin swept aside Greg Rusedski 6-4. 6-4. 6-2 to give the United States their 2-0 lead in a historic Davis Cup first round tie on Friday.

Martin, ranked eight in the world, played with clinical precision throughout as Rusedski's ferocious serve failed to fire on the indoor carpet surface to the huge disappointment of the 9.500 crowd.

Earlier former w;orld number one Jim Courier used all his courage and experience to beat Tim Henman 7-6. 2-6. 7-6. 6-7. 7-5 in four hours 12 minutes of pulsating tennis.

'This defeat hurts more on a new level. This match was on a different scale." Henman said.

Britain have only once come back from 2-0 down to win a Davis Cup tie. in 1930 against Germany.

This World Group lie is a repeat of the first cup match, won 3-0 by the US in Boston, and is being played In the centenary year of the men’s team competition.

In Zimbabwe, world number five Rafter brought Australia level with Zimbabwe by subduing Wayne Black 6-3, 3-6. 7-6. 6-2 in a match he did not control until the final set.

Black's older brother Byron had given Zimbabwe the lead by upselling Philippoussis 6-3, 3-6. 4-6. 6-3. 7-5.