Federer Fires Swiss Into Davis Cup Final Favouritism

World number three Roger Federer secured his country a place at its first Davis Cup final in 22 years yesterday (14th September), its last appearance back in 1992 as runners-up to the United States. A comprehensive 3-2 victory over Italy sees the Swiss face France in the final. Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga`s doubles victory over the Czech Republic`s Tomas Berdych and Radenek Stepanek saw Le Bleus through to its first Davis Cup final for four years. France is also aiming for its first tournament triumph on home soil since its 1991 success over the USA in Lyon.

An 18,000-strong crowd occupied the edges of their seats in Geneva`s Palexpo Arena as they witnessed Federer`s dispatching of Fabio Fognini with trademark ease. The Italian, over whom Federer holds a perfect 3-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head record, was dismissed in just under two hours, beaten 6-2, 6-3, 7-6, (7-4). The victory put Switzerland in an unassailable 3-1 position and saw the joyous 33-year-old hoisted onto the shoulders of team captain Severin Luthi and fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka. The final rubber, which was eventually won by Andreas Seppi, who beat Zurich`s Michael Lammer 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, having no affect on the outcome of the tie.

Speaking after the match, Federer told of his pleasure at playing a part in his country`s progression though also spoke of having struggled with what he described as `tough conditions`.

`It`s really nice to share it with my team members. `I think I really struggled today. I think Fabio struggled all weekend. It`s tough conditions, a pretty quick court so it`s always going to happen especially if you are not serving well.`

Despite his own concerns regarding his performance, the disposal of Fognini was Federer`s 55th match win since the start of the year, a rich vein of form he will be hoping to take into the France encounter.

This final, which runs from the 21st - 23rd November, represents an important point in the career of the 17-time Grand Slam winner with the Davis Cup and the Olympic gold medal being the only accolades to have escaped the Basel-born player. The bookmakers have made Switzerland favourites to right this first wrong. Boylesports currently have the best prices of all their competitors. They make the Swiss 4/6 favourites for glory with the French, the third most successful nation in the history of the competition, the 7/2 outsiders to win its tenth title. A 4-1 thrashing of the defending champions, however, suggests that the final won`t be a one-sided affair. Les Bleus led 3-0 after Gasquet and Tsonga`s doubles match-up with Berdych and Stepanek at Roland Garros, before Jiri Vesely upset the party by defeating Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-3 in the first dead rubber. Any chance of the Czech Republic leaving with dignity intact was blown out of the water as Gael Monflis finished off Lukas Rosol 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

Twenty-eight-year-old Gasquet described the forthcoming final as a `dream` and potential opponent Federer as a `monument of tennis`. Interestingly, all of France`s semi-final faces (the aforementioned Gasquet, Tsonga, Monflis and Benneteau) all have Switzerland as their official residence, adding a bit of spice to proceedings and meaning that the players` supposed home advantage might not make much difference after all!

Conversely, what is sure to decide the 2014 Davis Cup champion is surface selection, with Arnaud Clement, this year`s captain of the French team, under pressure to find the winning formula to silence Roger and co.

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15/09/2014     © Frixo 2024