Federer puts Swiss up 2-0 in Davis Cup

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Roger Federer showed some rare frustration Friday, requesting a change of line judges before going on to beat Belgium's Kristof Vliegen 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-2 to give Switzerland a 2-0 lead in a Davis Cup World Group playoff.

Upset by a baseline call that led to him lose serve and trail 2-0 in the second set, Federer walked to his chair and called for match referee Norbert Peick to change the line judges.

The team of nine officials was kept in place before being removed at a change of ends when the U.S. Open champion trailed 4-1. They left the indoor arena to a chorus of boos from a partisan Swiss crowd.

Earlier, Stanislas Wawrinka -- who won Olympic gold with Federer in men's doubles in Beijing last month -- beat Steve Darcis 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in a four-hour match.

• COLLEGE ATHLETICS -- The NCAA has determined that Auburn did not commit academic fraud in allowing students, including athletes in football and other sports, to take courses that required little or no time in the classroom.

The NCAA's findings, released Friday, stated that Auburn committed only secondary violations involving student-athletes who repeated the courses after completing their eligibility for sports in 2005 and 2006.

The NCAA had investigated claims that a sociology professor was helping football players and other athletes stay eligible through independent study courses, which allow students to avoid classroom time.

• WNBA -- Deanna Nolan scored 22 points to lead the Detroit Shock to an 81-72 victory over the Indiana Fever in the opener of the WNBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Plenette Pierson had 11 points for the Shock. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be Sunday in Detroit.

The Shock swept Indiana in three regular-season games and have won five straight over the Fever, including the last two games of the 2007 conference finals.

Tamika Catchings posted 19 points and seven assists, Ebony Hoffman scored 19 points, and Tan White chipped in 11 for the Fever. Before the game, Hoffman was chosen as this season's most improved player in the WNBA.

• PRO BASKETBALL -- Boston Celtics forward Darius Miles has been suspended without pay for 10 games for violating the terms of the anti-drug program at the end of the 2007-08 season.

Miles' suspension will begin with the first game of the 2008-09 regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play. Miles has missed the past two NBA seasons because of knee injuries. He has averaged 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in his career.

• PRO FOOTBALL -- Packers linebacker Nick Barnett said he would appeal the second fine he received in as many weeks from the NFL.

Barnett was fined $7,500 earlier this week for a helmet-to-helmet contact on a hit of Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna in the last game.

Barnett was fined $7,500 last week for a horse-collar tackle of Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the Packers' opener Sept. 8.

• HOCKEY -- Ned Harkness, who coached NCAA champion hockey and lacrosse teams, has died. He was 89.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute said Harkness, who won NCAA hockey championships in 1954 with RPI and in 1967 and 1970 with Cornell University, died at his home in Rochester on his birthday. He had recently suffered a stroke.

This story was originally published September 20, 2008 at 12:45 AM with the headline "Federer puts Swiss up 2-0 in Davis Cup."