FEDERER HEADLINES DAVIS CUP WORLD GROUP SEMIFINAL ACTION BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 11th September 2014

FEDERER HEADLINES DAVIS CUP WORLD GROUP SEMIFINAL ACTION BY RICKY DIMON

epa04392289 Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a ball during a training session of the Swiss Davis Cup Team prior to the Davis Cup World Group Semifinal match between Switzerland and Italy, at Palexpo, in Geneva, Switzerland, 09 September 2014. The Davis Cup World Group Semifinal Switzerland vs Italy will take place from 12 to September 14. EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI |

Making a quick turnaround following a semifinal showing at the U.S. Open, Roger Federer will be back in action on Friday when Switzerland hosts Italy in the Davis Cup World Group semifinals. The opening day of singles in Geneva will feature a first rubber between Federer and Simone Bolelli, to be followed by Stan Wawrinka vs. Fabio Fognini.

Federer is 2-0 lifetime against Bolelli. The 17-time Grand Slam champion prevailed 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 in a Davis Cup World Group playoffs rubber on an Italian clay court in 2009. Federer also scored a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Bolelli on the indoor hard courts of Basel in 2008.

Wawrinka leads the overall head-to-head series against Fognini 4-1–including 3-1 at the ATP level. Fognini, though, won their most recent encounter 6-2, 7-6(3) last year on the clay of Acapulco.

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland returns a ball during a training session of the Swiss Davis Cup Team prior to the Davis Cup World Group Semifinal match between Switzerland and Italy, at Palexpo, in Geneva, Switzerland, 09 September 2014. The Davis Cup World Group Semifinal Switzerland vs Italy will take place from 12 to September 14. EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

Of the four singles players, Federer fared the best in New York. The 33-year-old saved two match points to win a quarterfinal thriller against Gael Monfils before losing to eventual champion Marin Cilic in the semis. Bolelli upset Vasek Pospisil then fell to Tommy Robredo in five sets during second-round action. Wawrinka succumbed to eventual runner-up Kei Nishikori in five sets in the quarterfinals, while Fognini managed to reach only the second round.

As for Monfils, his French team will host this weekend’s other World Group semifinal tie against the two-time defending champ Czech Republic. Perhaps needing more rest, Monfils will be on the sideline for Friday’s singles matches as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet lead the way for the host nation at Roland Garros.

Tsonga and Lukas Rosol will be squaring off for the second time in their careers. Their only previous encounter came two years ago on the hard courts of Dubai, where the Frenchman prevailed 6-3, 6-4. Gasquet, meanwhile, is 5-3 lifetime against first-day opponent Tomas Berdych.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Davis Cup, Fabio Fognini, Gael Monfils, Marin Cilic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Switzerland, Tennis, Vasek Pospisil

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10sBalls_com says:

September 11, 2014 at 12:06 pm

@rogerfederer HEADLINES @DavisCup WORLD GROUP SEMIFINAL ACTION BY RICKY DIMON- http://t.co/PF6CG8ndoz @RD_Tennistalk #tennis #DavisCup #ATP
RD_Tennistalk says:

September 11, 2014 at 3:39 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: @rogerfederer HEADLINES @DavisCup WORLD GROUP SEMIFINAL ACTION BY RICKY DIMON- http://t.co/PF6CG8ndoz @RD_Tennistalk #te…