R Federer (Swi) bt A Mackin (GB)

6-0 6-0 6-2

Game-by-game updates:

Third set:

Federer 6-2 Mackin
Federer shows his amazing ability by returning Mackin's serve with a drop shot and the Scot fires long to take Federer to 0-30. A clean backhand sees Mackin grab a point back. But the Swiss surrenders no more points as as expected he comfortably wraps up the match to set Switzerland on their way.

Federer 5-2 Mackin
Mackin carves out a chance to break straight back as Federer loses concentration but he nets the ball to take the game to deuce. A deft passing shot at the net gives Mackin another break chance but an 13th aces snuffs out the threat and Federer holds.

Federer 4-2 Mackin
British captain Jeremy Bates has more advice to Mackin and nods of encouragement as the 24-year-old Scot goes out to face Federer again. A low, dipping forehand, a looping over hook shot and a swinging backhand takes the Swiss to break point - which he takes as Mackin nets the ball.

Federer 3-2 Mackin
The world number one effortlessly stamps his authority on the match holding to 40.

Federer 2-2 Mackin
The British number nine shows some grit as he tries to find a chink in Federer's armour and he again holds as the match reaches the hour mark.

Federer 2-1 Mackin
Mackin does seem relieved to get a game under his belt and moves to 30-30 with some good work around the court. But once again Federer ups the tempo just a little to hold.

Federer 1-1 Mackin
Good work at the net takes Mackin to game point - the first in the last two sets. But a snatched backhand sees him slide back to deuce. And Federer loops the ball long to see the Scot win his first game to rapturous applause from the British contingent in Switzerland.

Federer 1-0 Mackin
The world number one effortlessly takes his service game to love as Mackin finds no way to answer the Swiss

Second set:

Federer 6-0 Mackin
The Swiss, cheered on by partisan home crowd ringing cow bells, moves to two set points. Mackin saves one but carelessly sends the ball wide to see Federer flawlessly march on.

Federer 5-0 Mackin
Mackin is able to take a couple of points from Federer on his serve but fires long to see the Swiss hold to 30.

Federer 4-0 Mackin
After just 14 minutes, Federer comfortably takes a 4-0 lead and British captain Jeremy Bates looks on disconsolately from the sidelines.

Federer 3-0 Mackin
The world number one shows no sign of letting up as he roars to another service game, surrending just a single point to struggling Mackin.

Federer 2-0 Mackin
Mackin bravely tries to match Federer but the ball bounces off the top of the net to hand the Swiss two break points. And Federer moves away again with a angled backhand.

Federer 1-0 Mackin
The Swiss world number one appears to have stepped up a gear in Geneva as he eases to the opening game to 15.

First set:

Federer 6-0 Mackin
Team GB captain Jeremy Bates offers Mackin some words of advice and the Scot appears to rally moving to 30-15. But Federer snuffs out the threat with a rasping diagonal forehand and then another from out wide to move to set-point. Mackin saves deuce with a neat forehand but he then loops the ball long to see Federer takes the first set unanswered.

Federer 5-0 Mackin
Minimum effort is requied now from the Wimbledon and US Open champion as he wraps up the games to 15.

Federer 4-0 Mackin
Mackin's unforced errors are making things more difficult for the 24-year-old than they need to be. A superb diagonal forehand takes Federer to 15-40 and a double-fault sees Mackin tamely hand the Swiss the game.

Federer 3-0 Mackin
Mackin carves out a break point on the Federer serve - and the crowd respond. But the Briton sends a cross-court forehand wide to slide back to deuce. Federer wraps up the game with an ace to comfortably extend his lead.

Federer 2-0 Mackin
A double-fault by the Briton takes Federer to 15-30 but he forces Federer out wide at 30-30. The Swiss nets the ball to miss his first break chance. Mackin tries to cling on in a lengthy opening service game but Federer breaks him after the fourth deuce with some powerful forehands.

Federer 1-0 Mackin
Federer gets the Davis Cup tie under way in front of a lively crowd at the Palexpo Arena. Two unforced errors from the world number one takes Mackin to 15-30. But Federer finds his feet with some solid groundstrokes to hold.

British number nine Alan Mackin faces the daunting challenge of taking on Swiss world number one Roger Federer in the opening singles rubber of the Davis Cup World Group play-off.

Mackin, 24, has never won a top-level match while Federer has only lost three times this year.

Great Britain captain Jeremy Bates has opted for this opening mis-match in a tactical move designed to keep Greg Rusedski fresh for Saturday's doubles match.

Britain and Switzerland will battle it out over the next three days in Geneva to try to win promotion to the World Group.