World No. 2 Raphael Nadal has withdrawn from the upcoming ATP Thailand Open in Bangkok, citing knee injuries that have bothered him since the U.S. Open. The withdrawal of the French Open champion, who lost to countryman David Ferrer in round four at the Flushing Meadows event because of the injuries, was announced at the draw ceremony at the Impact Arena, where the tournament starts Tuesday.

The United States took a 2-1 lead over Sweden in the Davis Cup semifinals Saturday, with Bob and Mike Bryan defeating Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman in doubles 7-6 (11), 6-2, 6-3. The Bryan twins, who are 12-1 in Davis Cup doubles, saved three set points in the tiebreaker on Scandinavium arena’s fast indoor carpet.

Roger Federer lost at doubles with Swiss teammate Yves Allegro on Saturday, giving the Czech Republic a 2-1 lead in their Davis Cup playoff. Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek saved a match point in the third set before winning 3-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4 to put the Czechs one victory from a spot in next year’s World Group.

Alexander Waske and Philipp Petzschner defeated Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) Saturday to give Germany a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup semifinals against Russia. Igor Andreev beat Tommy Haas to give defending champion Russia the first point Friday, but Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Nikolay Davydenko in a tough five-set match to pull Germany even at 1-1 in the…

Roger Federer defeated Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5) Friday to help Switzerland to a 1-1 tie against the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup playoffs. Tomas Berdych defeated Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (2), 6-4, 7-5 in the second singles match. Federer is making his 2007 debut for Switzerland in the Davis Cup, with a spot in next year’s World Group on the line.

Andy Roddick defeated Joachim Johansson 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 Friday to give the United States a 1-0 lead over Sweden in the Davis Cup semifinals. Roddick broke the only time in the match to lead 4-3 in the third set when Johansson blew an overhead at 30-30 and then netted a forehand. The American held at love to close out the match.

Roger Federer defeated Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5) Friday to give Switzerland a 1-0 lead over the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup playoffs. Federer is making his 2007 debut for Switzerland in the Davis Cup, with a spot in next year’s World Group on the line. The top-ranked Federer broke Stepanek for a 4-2 lead in the first set.

Igor Andreev upset U.S. Open semifinalist Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the opening singles match Friday to give defending champion Russia a 1-0 lead over Germany in the Davis Cup semifinals. Nikolay Davydenko was to face Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second singles on clay at the Olympic indoor stadium.

Second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova defeated Anastasia Rodionova 6-2, 6-1 Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Sunfeast Open. Hantuchova needed only 57 minutes against Rodionova, setting up a quarterfinal match with eighth-seeded Chan Yungjan. American Vania King, who stunned top-seeded Maria Bartoli in the first round, lost to Mariya Koryttseva 6-1, 6-2.

Martin Klizan will meet Lee Hyung-taik in opening singles Friday in the Davis Cup playoff between Slovakia and South Korea. In the second singles match, Lukas Lacko was drawn Thursday to play Jun Woong-sun on the indoor clay at Sibamac Arena. Ivo Klec will team up with Michal Mertinak for Slovakia in Saturday’s doubles against Jun and Lee.

Andy Roddick will face Joachim Johansson, who has been sidelined by a shoulder injury, in opening singles Friday at the Davis Cup semifinal between Sweden and the United States. The draw Thursday also pitted Thomas Johansson against James Blake in the second singles match on indoor carpet. In Saturday’s doubles, Simon Aspelin will team with veteran Jonas Bjorkman against the top-ranked doubles team…

Roger Federer will face Radek Stepanek on Friday in the opening singles match of Switzerland’s Davis Cup playoff at the Czech Republic. “What can be better than to start again in the Davis Cup team against world No. 1?” said the 34th-ranked Stepanek, who came out of retirement to help the Czech Republic.

Attendance at the U.S. Open rose 12 percent to a record 715,587 this year, and the tennis tournament’s official Web site drew more than 30 million visits for the first time. The event’s previous high total attendance was 659,538 in 2005. The U.S. Tennis Association also announced Wednesday that the number of player-challenged line calls increased 40 percent, from 229 in 2006, to 320 this year.

The Davis Cup playoffs are likely to draw as much attention as the semifinals. With participation in next year’s World Group on the line, Roger Federer will make his 2007 debut for Switzerland at the Czech Republic. The best-of-five series starts Friday, with the draw scheduled for Thursday. Novak Djokovic, who lost to Federer in the U.S.

Elena Likhovtseva defeated 2005 champion Klara Zakopalova 7-6 (8), 6-2 Monday in the first round of the Slovenia Open. Likhovtseva, who has won three WTA titles in her career, said she was “happy with the result, but not with my play.” Third-seeded Alona Bondarenko withdrew from the tournament late Sunday, citing personal reasons.