Roger Federer Levels Australia vs Switzerland Tie

Written by: Global Chick on 17th September 2011

Roger Federer Levels Australia vs Switzerland Tie

Switzerland's Roger Federer in action against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt during the Davis Cup world group play-off between Australia and Switzerland, in Sydney, Australia, 16 September 2011. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Rising Australian star Bernard Tomic gave Australia the lead yesterday when he took out Swiss number two Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3.

The tie is played on the Royal Sydney Golf Club’s grass court. The Australian team have targeted Wawrinka as Swiss number one Roger Federer is almost unbeatable. Wawrinka got off to a good start winning the first set 6-4.

Wawrinka is a top 20 player who suffered an injury at the US Open and looked a little slow around the court during the Tomic match. Bernard Tomic played really well and handled the pressure very well playing on home soil.

“It’s something I’ve dreamt of as a young boy. It wasn’t easy but I’m very happy,” the Queenslander said.

Switzerland’s number two player saved three match points in the fourth set before Tomic hit the winning backhand down the line and sealed the victory for Australia. Today’s victory gave Tomic a 4-0 Davis Cup record.

Stanislas said of Tomic’s game today, “His game is perfect for grass courts. A lot of first serves in, he’s mixing a lot, flat forehand, comes to the net, dome drop shots. He is going to be a great player. He have a special game. I knew he can play that level.”

Australia need to win this tie against Switzerland to qualify for the top Davis Cup competition – the World Group.

Superstar Roger Federer overcame Davis Cup stalwart Lleyton Hewitt in the second match of the day. Roger levelled the tie by winning 5-7 7-6 (5) 6-2 6-3. It was the first time Federer has beaten Hewitt in a Davis Cup match.

Last time the two played each other Hewitt came back from 2-5 down in the fifth set. It looked like Hewitt was fully in charge and he took at 7-5 3-1 lead. The Swiss number one came back and broke serve and forced a tiebreaker, which he won 7-5.

Federer came out firing in the third set breaking serve in the opening game. The third set was over in 28 minutes with a 6-2 win for Switzerland. Hewitt kept fighting for his country but lost his serve again in the fourth set and before you knew it Switzerland had levelled the tie.

“It was a big victory for me, after a rough last week.” Federer came from competing at the US Open last week where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the semi-final despite holding match points said, “Moving was difficult. I felt a bit tired early on, that’s what a grass court does to you.”

Australia will be represented by Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione in today’s crucial doubles against Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.