This weekend's Davis Cup showdown at the Olympiisky Indoor Stadium was a high-profile contest between some of the world's highest-ranked players and hottest personalities. The Russian team, including temperamental Marat Safin and the more cool-headed Yevgeny Kafelnikov, won the hometown competition against the Swiss.

Kafelnikov's loss on Sunday to Roger Federer in the fourth match gave up Russia's 2-1 lead to Switzerland. Safin came through in the end, winning the heart of the sold-out crowd by defeating Michel Kratochvil in a tense final match in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Safin's win made up for his loss to Federer on Friday. The Russian team had taken the lead in the doubles competition on Saturday.

Safin was modest about his victory and the poor performance of his teammate on Sunday, giving the usual response: "It's a team effort."

"It was really difficult in the end… I didn't want to lose in front of the home crowd," he added.

His modest response provoked laughter from journalists, as Safin is regarded as selfish in the sports world.

The young Russian, ranked seventh in the world, uncharacteristically kept his cool despite a number of contentious calls by the line judge. The 23-year-old is regarded in sport circles as potentially the best player in the world – if he could only keep his temper under control.

His teammate, fourth-ranked Kafelnikov, is a more mature player who dislikes journalists and had little to say about his performance. He looked frustrated over his match on Sunday at a news conference and answered journalists' questions about his poor performance with a simple: "It was bad luck. Really bad luck."

The team captain, Shamil Tarpishchev, brushed aside Kafelnikov's loss to Federer, saying, "He [Kafelnikov] plays like a professor on red clay."

Of course, the match was graced by celebrity personalities. Former president Boris Yeltsin, a big tennis fan and friend of Kafelnikov, cheered for the team on Friday and Saturday. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov also put in a showing at the tournament – although he made an early exit during Kafelnikov's loss on Sunday – along with composer Igor Krutoi and producer Igor Nikolayev, rumored to be the father of pop singer Natalya Korolyova's unborn child.

Russia will go on to play Sweden – who defeated England on Sunday – in April. According to the Russian team, Luzhkov has promised that thematch will be held in Moscow.