U.S. TO TAKE ON FEDERER AS IT BEGINS CHASE FOR 2012 DAVIS CUP TITLE

Written by: Staff on 9th February 2012

U.S. TO TAKE ON FEDERER AS IT BEGINS CHASE FOR 2012 DAVIS CUP TITLE

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their semi final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 26 January 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9, 2012-Tennis Channel will provide exclusive coverage of the U.S. Davis Cup team’s first-round competition against Switzerland in Fribourg, Switzerland, this weekend, with live and same-day, “Instant Encore” replays Friday through Sunday. Switzerland’s 16-time Grand Slam winner and World No. 3 Roger Federer will face the United States Davis Cup team for the first time since its victory over the Americans in 2001. The meeting will consist of two singles matches on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 a.m. ET, followed by the doubles match Saturday, Feb. 11, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Tennis Channel’s coverage concludes with the remaining singles play Sunday, Feb. 12, at 6 a.m. ET. Each of the five matches is worth one point, with the team that wins at least three points advancing to the quarterfinals to face either France or Canada April 6-8. Each evening at 8:30 p.m. ET Tennis Channel will offer an encore presentation of the day’s Davis Cup action.

Coverage from Forum Fribourg in Switzerlandis as follows (all time ET):

Friday, Feb. 10:

7 a.m. – Live Singles #1

10 a.m. – Live Singles #2

{8:30 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1}

{11:30 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2}

Saturday, Feb. 11:

8:30 a.m. – Live Doubles

{8:30 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles}

{11:30 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles}

Sunday, Feb. 12:

6 a.m. – Live Singles #1

9 a.m. – Live Singles #2

{8:30 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1}

{11:30 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2}

The United States and Switzerland have faced each other three times in Davis Cup play, with the United States winning two of those meetings. The most recent competition was during the 2009 first round when the Americans beat the Swiss team in Birmingham, Ala. However, 16-time Grand Slam singles champion Roger Federer was not on the Swiss team during that matchup. The Swiss claimed their sole victory against the United States in 2001 when they defeated the Americans 3-2 on home soil. The United States enters this weekend’s match after falling to the most successful Davis Cup team of the last decade, 2011 champions Spain, in the quarterfinals last July. The Americans lead all nations with 23 Davis Cup titles, the most recent in 2007.

Leading the United States is Captain Jim Courier, who as a player helped the American squad win the Davis Cup in 1992 against Switzerland with teammates Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe. Last year Mardy Fish, World No. 8, recorded his first career win over Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals at the Western & Southern Open to advance to the tournament’s semifinals for the second straight year. John Isner enters this weekend’s competition after defeating former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian in an epic four-hour, 41-minute match to reach the third round of the 2012 Australian Open. Last year rising star Ryan Harrison advanced to his second ATP Tour semifinal in a row before falling to Davis Cup teammate Fish at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, becoming the first American teenager since Andy Roddick to advance to back-to-back tournament semifinals. Mike Bryan, one half of the world’s top-ranked doubles team, captured his eleventh Grand Slam doubles title at Wimbledon with his brother Bob last year.

Switzerland is bidding to win its first Davis Cup title. The Swiss earned its spot in Fed Cup play this weekend after a 3-2 victory over Australia in September. Switzerland’s team is captained by Severin Luthi and features World No. 3 Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer.