Roger Federer on Tuesday said he still hopes to be able to defend Swiss colors in the Davis Cup final against hosts France in Lille this weekend, despite a crippling back injury.
He added that he and teammate Stanislas Wawrinka are back on the best of terms after an ugly bust-up.
It has been a troubled buildup to say the least, for the Swiss pair as they seek a first-ever Davis Cup triumph for their country against a powerful French team on a specially laid indoor clay court inside the Stade Pierre-Mauroy — home to Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille Metropole — and expected to host a record 27,000-strong crowd.
Photo: EPA
All had been going well until the two Swiss stars — ranked second and fourth in the world — were pitted against each other in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Saturday.
Many thought there would be some kind of an “understanding” between the two given the importance of what faces them in Lille the following week. Instead they embarked on one of the most draining matches of the season — nearly three hours of cut-throat tennis that Federer won 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) after saving four match points.
There was a price to pay for both players, though, with the Australian Open champion distraught after a heartbreaking loss and Federer ailing with a back spasm that forced him to pull out of the final against Serbia’s Novak Dkokovic the next day.
On top of that, there was a bust-up that followed — Wawrinka taking umbrage at what he saw as inappropriate words from Federer’s wife, Mirka, from the players’ box at a key point in the third set.
Speaking in Lille on Tuesday, both players admitted that there had been an altercation, but both said it had been overplayed by the press and that all was back to normal between the two — Olympic doubles champions in Beijing in 2008.
“We had a conversation after the match. Everything’s totally relaxed about the situation. We’re old enough,” Federer said of the altercation. “I just wanted to see if there was any hard feelings because it was probably one of the loudest moments of the match, around 5-4, 5-5 score. Clearly a lot of noise.”
Wawrinka, who has long lived in the shadow of the man many consider to be the greatest tennis player of all time, agreed.
“For me there’s not much to say because it’s become a big deal because of the press,” he said “But for us it’s nothing really. It took us five minutes to talk about that, to think about the next main goal that we have: the Davis Cup this weekend.”
More worryingly for Switzerland is the state of Federer’s back, an injury which has dogged the 33-year-old champion throughout the latter part of his career.
As of Tuesday evening he had been unable to undertake any practice at all on clay, a surface on which he last played in losing to Ernests Gulbis in the last 16 of the French Open in Paris on June 1.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner was circumspect over whether he would be able to play tomorrow when the two opening rubbers of the final take place.
Asked what the chances of him playing were, he replied: “It’s impossible to give you an answer. As long as you are not on court practicing, you have no references. I’m making some progress, but I know I don’t have a month ahead of me to get better. I need to get better quickly.”
Federer’s withdrawal would be most likely fatal to Switzerland’s hopes of a historic Davis Cup win.
Although Wawrinka is comfortably ranked above all the France players, after him the fall off in the team is steep, with Marco Chiudinelli ranked 212th and Michael Lammer 508th.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely