Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt defeated Israelis Andy Ram and Amir Hadad 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 as police held off dozens of anti-Israel protestors who tried to storm the barricades outside the 4,000-seat Baltic Hall.
Only about 300 special guests were allowed inside the hall to watch Ram and Hadad save two match points before Lindstedt's drop shot winner clinched the match. Malmo officials had closed the venue to the public, citing security risks and protests against Israel because of the recent offensive in the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday, Israel's Dudi Sela will play Thomas Johansson in reverse singles, followed by Harel Levy against Andreas Vinciguerra.
On Friday, Johansson put Sweden ahead with a five-set win over Levy before Sela evened the series with a five-set victory against Vinciguerra.
It marks the second time a Davis Cup tie was played without fans in Sweden. In 1975, two years after a military coup in Chile led by Augusto Pinochet, Sweden played Chile in an empty stadium in Bastad.
