Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka gave Switzerland a 2-1 lead over France in the Davis Cup final with a commanding doubles win over Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet on Saturday.
The world No. 2 and No. 4 were in charge from the start and bossed the rubber from the net and the baseline to win 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 and put Switzerland just one victory away from their first-ever Davis Cup.
“Clearly it’s a big relief. The medical staff, it’s a big thanks to them. Thanks for getting me back onto the court. Stan has been unbelievably supportive,” said Federer, who had been struggling with a back injury in the days prior to Saturday’s match.
Photo: Reuters
“I am really happy with the way we were playing today. We were really aggressive, we knew what we had to do. I think we did a good job,” Wawrinka said.
Watched by another huge crowd of about 27,000 in the roofed-over Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve d’Ascq near Lille, France, that included French President Francois Hollande, the Swiss pair knuckled down to their task, pocketing the first break of the match in the sixth game on Benneteau’s serve.
That was enough to edge them a set up, but, after a quick visit to the locker room to regroup, the French pair came back out re-energized.
Photo: Reuters
They briefly looked the likelier to move back into contention, but failed to convert any of five break points that came their way in the second, fourth and eighth games.
They were made to pay a heavy price as, with a tiebreak looming, Gasquet’s serve collapsed under the weight of some magnificent returns from both of the Swiss players.
A Federer backhand winner secured the break and Wawrinka had no trouble serving out for a two-sets-to-love lead.
Photo: Reuters
The French pair had a mountain to climb and had to hold on grimly to Gasquet’s serve early in the third set to stay in the match.
Two games later it was Benneteau’s turn to feel the Swiss pressure and, after the French duo saved two break points, they succumbed on the third as Wawrinka split them with a forehand drive.
The Swiss team were coasting toward a famous victory and, even though the home side saved a match point on Benneteau’s serve at 3-5 down, Federer made no mistake in serving to love for the match and what could turn out to be the pivotal point of the final.
In Friday’s opening singles, Wawrinka defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets and Gael Monfils stunned Federer in three. After his defeat, Federer insisted his injured back was on the mend and that he would be fit for the weekend.
He and Wawrinka won Olympic doubles gold in Beijing for Switzerland in 2008, but they had lost the last four Davis Cup doubles they had played together.
By putting an end to that dire run of defeats they have put their country on the brink of one of its greatest ever sporting achievements.
It would also be a consecration for Federer, who has won an all-time best 17 Grand Slams, but, unlike great rival Rafael Nadal, he has yet to win the Davis Cup.
However, France skipper Arnaud Clement knows his side still have a shot at their first Davis Cup win since 2001, with Monfils in superb form and Tsonga having defeated Federer the last time they played in Canada in August.
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