FEDERER GOOD TO GO — World No. 2 Roger Federer, who on Sunday withdrew from the ATP World Tour Final in London, says his back has responded to treatment and he will compete in the Davis Cup final in France beginning today. The Swiss will play in the opening singles on Friday, taking to the court in the second match against Gael Monfils. “I’m just pleased I can play tomorrow,” Federer told reporters on Thursday. “[Will] give it a go.” Federer has reportedly healed his rift with Swiss teammate Stan Wawrinka as the two seek to give Switzerland a first-ever Davis Cup title. The Swiss in 1992 finished runner-up in the Davis Cup final, falling 3-1 to an American team comprised of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.
BRYAN BROTHERS’ 2014 BY THE NUMBERS:
1 ATP World Tour Finals Doubles title (their 4th career)
2 Clay court titles
2 Davis Cup wins vs. zero losses
6 Masters-level tournament titles
8 Hard court titles
10 Overall titles (4th year they’ve won 10 or more titles)
10 Years finishing No. 1 (the last 6 years and 10 of the last 12)
16 Won the US Open for their 16th Grand Slam title
36 Years young
64 Match wins vs. 12 losses on the year
103 Total career team titles after ATP World Tour Finals Doubles win
“If we had to pick one highlight during this great season, it would probably have to be the US Open,” Mike Bryan said. “We did it (100th career team title) luckily at our home Grand Slam when there was a lot of talk about it.”
Sergio Garcia gets ready to heckle Juan Carlos Ferrero
NO. 1 ON THE BAG — The greatest golfers in the world are known for having some of the greatest caddie masterminds on their bags. Not necessarily current world No. 6-ranked and former world No. 2 Sergio Garcia of Spain. Last year the former Players Championship winner had girlfriend Katharina Boehm on his bag when he won the Thailand Open, so this year he will continue the friend trend on his bag by “employing” former No. 1-ranked ATP player and now-retired Juan Carlos Ferrero as his caddie. “I’ve played golf with him many times but he never caddied for me before,” said Garcia about the 2003 French Open champion. “We just talked about it and he mentioned about it and we decided to do it. He is excited about it…It always helps to have a friend on your bag. It is good fun to be able to enjoy golf and have a good time with a good close friend.”
Visitors Wawrinka, Federer Lead Against Tsonga, Monfils in Davis Cup Final on Indoor Red Clay
Switzerland and France meet today in the final of the 2014 Davis Cup, held on the indoor clay courts of Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France. France takes a 9-9 record in Davis Cup finals (last winning in 2001, and 0-2 in finals since then) into the weekend, while Switzerland is looking to raise the cup for the first time (0-1 in finals, losing to the U.S. in 1992).
For Roger Federer it could be his last opportunity to add the Davis Cup to a career that includes 17 Grand Slam singles title and an Olympic gold medal in doubles.
The betting lines have Switzerland favored entering the tie, even after Federer retired before the final of the ATP World Tour Final last Sunday, handing the championship to Novak Djokovic.
Here are the line-ups for the weekend (subject to change):
Friday Singles
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) vs. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland)
Gael Monfils (France) vs. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
Saturday Doubles
Julien Benneteau/Richard Gasquet (France) vs Marco Chiudinelli/Michael Lammer (Switzerland)
Sunday Singles
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) vs. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
Gael Monfils (France) vs. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland)
They Said It
“Five seconds after I hit him, I told him, ‘You just blocked my ace, thanks a lot.'”
— Bob Bryan after hitting brother Mike in the back of the head with a serve during the ATP World Tour Finals
“Two days after losing to [Roger] Federer, he was sitting on the couch playing Mario Kart when he got the call from ATP head Chris Kermode about Federer’s withdrawal. Murray didn’t hesitate to come do an exhibitions set with [Novak] Djokovic, didn’t demand any money and packed his bags and drove himself to the O2 Arena. If you know Murray, none of that comes as a surprise. He’s a good guy like that.”
— Tennis writer Courtney Nguyen on Andy Murray stepping in to play an exhibition when Roger Federer pulled out of the ATP World Tour Finals championship match with injury
“Doubles has to be cared for and promoted. The trend is for no prize money increases on the doubles side. Doubles kind of gets swept under the rug. There does have to be someone looking after it. Maybe that will be our job when I retire.”
— Bob Bryan following the ATP World Tour Finals Doubles Championship
Tennis on TV This Weekend
Friday
8am-2pm — Davis Cup Final (live), Tennis Channel
Saturday
9:30am-12:30pm — Davis Cup Final (live), Tennis Channel
Sunday
7am-1pm — Davis Cup Final (live), Tennis Channel
