What's on the Line for France and Switzerland in the 2014 Davis Cup Final?
Throughout its 114-year history, the Davis Cup has provided tennis fans with intriguing matchups and epic battles. The 2014 Davis Cup final between Switzerland and France promises to be one of the most enjoyable in recent memory.
The Davis Cup tie gets underway Friday in Lille, France. The tournament features a legend and a showman, and of course, history is on the line.
The Swiss are trying to win their first Davis Cup title. The French, winners of nine Davis Cup titles, seek to win their first since 2001.
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Besides national pride, the players participating in the 2014 finals tie have individual goals to pursue and demons to vanquish.
Roger Federer, winner of 17 Grand Slam titles, seeks to add a Davis Cup championship to his legacy. Besides an Olympic gold medal in singles, a Davis Cup championship is the only other significant achievement that eludes Federer.
Ranked No. 2, Federer has enjoyed a solid year. He reached the Wimbledon final and won five tournaments. Up until last week, at the the ATP World Tour Finals, Federer had a shot at overtaking Novak Djokovic at No. 1.
Instead, Federer withdrew from his scheduled finals match against Djokovic due to a back injury.
Yesterday, Federer was cleared to play. When asked about his ability to compete, Federer told reporters, via the Davis Cup's official website, "Obviously if I'm stepping out on the court, that means I can play...That's most important."
Federer takes on Gael Monfils in the second singles rubber on Friday. Federer has an 8-2 record against Monfils.
Often hampered by injuries, Monfils told reporters, via ASAP Sports, that he feels 100 percent. "I feel pretty good. I'm feeling better and better. If I had to play, I would be at 100 percent, no problem. No problem."
The Frenchman had two match points against Federer in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. But as is too often the case with Monfils, he failed to hang on to what would have been a career-changing win. Instead, he suffered a monumental collapse, falling to Federer in the fifth set.
Defeating Federer in the Davis Cup could provide Monfils with some sense of redemption.
Something has to give. Monfils is 3-0 in singles in Davis Cup play this year. Federer is 5-0.
Monfils' defensive skills and the clay surface may neutralize any historical advantages Federer has over him.
Stan Wawrinka seeks to cap his 2014 season the same way he started it off, by winning a championship. Winner of the 2014 Australian Open, Wawrinka has been a fixture in the Top Five this year. A Davis Cup win could help him rebuild confidence after a shaky second half of the season.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, like Wawrinka, has had a topsy-turvy season. His high was capturing the Rogers Cup title with a win over Federer.
The French have a decisive advantage in doubles. Veteran singles player Richard Gasquet, ranked No. 25, teams up with No. 26 Julien Benneteau in the first doubles rubber. They take on Swiss players Marco Chiudinelli, No. 212 and Michael Lammer, No. 508.
The weak doubles team makes getting off to a solid start essential for the Swiss. If either Federer or Wawrinka falters on Day 1, the Swiss are almost certainly facing a 1-2 deficit going into Day 2.
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