RICKY DIMON REPORTS: FEDERER GOES DOWN TO MONFILS, DAVIS CUP FINAL BETWEEN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND TIED 1-1

Written by: Staff on 21st November 2014

RICKY DIMON REPORTS: FEDERER GOES DOWN TO MONFILS, DAVIS CUP FINAL BETWEEN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND TIED 1-1

epa04498616 Gael Monfils of France reacts during his first day's single match of the Davis Cup World Final against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, 21 November 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were hardly more than innocent bystanders during the first day of Davis Cup final action in Lille, France. At least Federer had an excuse, coming off a long week at the World Tour Finals that ended when he had to pull out of the title match against Novak Djokovic due to a back injury. Tsonga, on the other hand, simply got outplayed by Stan Wawrinka.

Whereas Federer’s problem was injury, not to mention way too much Gael Monfils, Tsonga’s issue was rust. The 12th-ranked Frenchman had played only six matches since the U.S. Open heading into his country’s tie against Switzerland. Wawrinka, meanwhile, was battle-hardened by a productive showing in London, where he won two of three round-robin contests before losing a semifinal thriller to Federer 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6).

Their respective form showed in Friday’s opening rubber, with Wawrinka overwhelming Tsonga 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France returns the ball to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during the first day’s single match of the Davis Cup World Final between France and Switzerland at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, 21 November 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT

Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland returns the ball to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during the first day’s single match of the Davis Cup World Final between France and Switzerland at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, 21 November 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT

“I feel great,” the fourth-ranked Swiss assured. “It was really good from me. I went for it. In general I felt like I was the stronger player on the court, and that’s why I took the match. I showed them I’m not No. 4 for nothing.”

Federer was simply unable to show why he is set to finish the season at No. 2 in the world. Switzerland’s worst fears were not entirely confirmed, as that situation would have entailed Federer being unable to take the court and being forced to watch the entire weekend’s proceedings from the sideline. But the news certainly wasn’t good. The 33-year-old looked far less than 100 percent while getting clobbered by a red-hot Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

“That definitely [is] one of the top three matches in my life,” said Monfils. “To be honest, I was very nervous in the beginning. For sure when Jo lost, it’s an extra pressure because we need to get back on the road to win the title.”

Gael Monfils of France reacts after winning his match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during second single match of the Davis Cup Final match between France and Switzerland, at the Stadium Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France, 21 November 2014. EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

“I’ll definitely make myself available (for the rest of the weekend) if I feel that I can play proper tennis,” Federer commented. “I started to feel better as the match went on. That’s very encouraging, I must say. I would think that I’m going to get better as the weekend goes on.”

Federer is scheduled to play Saturday’s doubles rubber alongside Wawrinka against Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a ball to Gael Monfils of France during the second single match of the Davis Cup Final match between France and Switzerland at the Stadium Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France, 21 November 2014. EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI

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

Topics: Atp, Davis Cup, France, Gael Monfils, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Switzerland, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

November 21, 2014 at 4:29 pm

RICKY DIMON REPORTS: @rogerfederer GOES DOWN TO #MONFILS, @DavisCup FINAL BETWEEN #FRANCE AND #SWITZERLAND TIED 1-1 http://t.co/gh6ZVZIIpL
RD_Tennistalk says:

November 21, 2014 at 6:00 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: RICKY DIMON REPORTS: @rogerfederer GOES DOWN TO #MONFILS, @DavisCup FINAL BETWEEN #FRANCE AND #SWITZERLAND TIED 1-1 http:…