John Isner Defeats Roger Federer in Four Sets in Davis Cup Shocker

Coming in to their opening-round tie in the 2012 Davis Cup, the United States anticipated having to formulate a purely magical tie in Switzerland in order to defeat a formidable Swiss side that includes just Stanislas Wawrinka and Roger Federer.

Many came to the seemingly appropriate conclusion that the Americans would have to win both matches against Stan the Man to have any chance at securing this tie.   

Little did they know, John Isner had different ideas.  

For the sake of laying foundation, Mardy Fish defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in an absolute epic, in which Wawrinka saved several match points before succumbing, 9-7 in the fifth. 

Surely, the Swiss crowd believed they would be going into Saturday's doubles action tied at 1-1 with Roger Federer primed to take the court against John Isner.

After obtaining a single break and taking the initial set 6-4, Federer looked to be well on his way to evening up this blockbuster opening-round tie.  

Unfortunately for Federer, John Isner woke up from his slumber and proceeded to play three sets of what was undoubtedly, the best tennis I have ever seen the 6'9" skyscraper play.

Not only was Isner providing zero inroads on his serve, he was constantly forcing the issue on his return game, the opposite of what one expected coming into this match.

The critical aspect of this match, other than Isner's capacity to serve as the supremely better aggressor, was the resolve of Isner.

Isner's moment of the match, so to speak, came at the point of equilibrium in the second set, serving at 2-2, 0-40.  Isner proceeded to serve three bombs, all three of which Federer was unable to return.  In the following game, Isner broke the Federer serve on top of several huge forehands and went on to close out the set 6-2.

This 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory gives the United States a 2-0 lead heading into Saturday's doubles action, where Federer and Wawrinka must win against Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison in order to keep Switzerland's hopes alive.