Federer keeps Swiss rolling
Originally published on 07/04/14
The world No.4 defeated Andrey Golubev in straight sets in the final rubber to secure a 3-2 victory over Kazakhstan in Geneva as the Swiss came from 2-1 down, winning the two reverse singles on the final day.
“It’s great. I was hoping so much I was going to get a chance to play and not just watch Stan play,” said Federer, who won his two singles rubbers but lost the doubles with Stanislas Wawrinka. “I got the opportunity and I’m happy I lived up to the hype and the expectations, and I was able to get the boys through so very happy for them."
Kazakhstan took a surprise lead in the tie when Wawrinka was beaten 7-6(5) 6-2 3-6 7-6(5) by Golubev, and although Federer levelled the scores with a 6-4 6-4 6-2 win over Kukushkin, Severin Luthi’s team fell behind again when Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov joined forces to defeat Federer and Wawrinka 6-4 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(5) in the doubles.
Wawrinka kept the tie alive as he came from a set down to defeat Kukushkin 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the fourth rubber before Federer sealed the victory with a 7-6(0) 6-2 6-3 victory.
Switzerland will meet Italy in September’s semi-finals after Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi won the reverse singles rubbers to secure a 3-2 victory over Great Britain in Naples.
Britain led 2-1 heading into the final day after Andy Murray completed a 6-4 7-5 6-3 win over Andreas Seppi before teaming up with Colin Fleming in the doubles as the pair beat Simone Bolleli and Fognini 6-3 6-2 3-6 7-5 on the same day after weather disrupted Friday’s play.
An inspired Fognini kept the tie alive with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory over Murray before Seppi sealed the win with a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win over James Ward.
Even in the absence of Tomas Berdych, defending champions Czech Republic cruised to a 5-0 win over Japan in Tokyo. The hosts, who were missing No.1 player Kei Nishikori with a groin injury, put up a fight on the opening day as Tatsuma Ito took Radek Stepanek to four sets before Taro Daniel’s Davis Cup debut went the distance as he led by two sets before he eventually fell 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2 to Lukas Rosol.
Stepanek and Rosol secured the victory with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over Ito and Yasutaka Uchiyama in the doubles, before completing a whitewash with victory in the reverse singles rubbers.
The Czechs will face France in the semi-finals after Gael Monfils completed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Germany in Nancy. Tobias Kamke gave Germany the lead with a 7-6(8) 6-3 6-2 victory over Julien Benneteau before Peter Gojowczyk claimed an unlikely 5-7 7-6(3) 3-6 7-6(8) 8-6 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Benneteau atoned for his singles defeat as he joined Michael Llodra to defeat Kamke and Andre Begemann 6-1 7-6(5) 4-6 7-5 to keep the tie alive heading into the reverse singles rubbers.
Tsonga powered past Kamke 6-3 6-2 6-4 before Monfils secured a 6-1 7-6(0) 6-2 victory as Arnaud Clement’s team recovered from a 2-0 deficit for the first time in 18 years.
Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here
