Sweden leads Israel 2-1 at Davis Cup

MALMO, Sweden, March 7 (UPI) -- Sweden took a 2-1 lead over Israel with a doubles victory Saturday in their best-of-five, opening-round Davis Cup matchup in Malmo, Sweden.

Swedish duo of Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt beat Amir Hadad and Andy Ram 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

Baltic Hall again was virtually empty because Swedish authorities feared demonstrations and protests against the Israeli team and only about 300 guests watched.

Israel completed a military offensive in the Gaza Strip back in January and about 100 demonstrators were either detained or arrested for rioting by police in Malmo Friday. Saturday, police had to push a large group of anti-Israeli protesters away from the venue.

Sunday, Sweden's Thomas Johansson will face Dudi Sela and, if necessary to break a tie, Andreas Vinciguerra will play Israel's Harel Levy.

The Israel-Sweden winner will face either Romania or Russia in July's quarterfinals.