Zimpapers Logo

GENEVA — Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka each have Grand Slam singles titles, and Olympic gold together in doubles. Now they can win Switzerland’s first Davis Cup trophy in the competition’s 114-year history.
Federer carried the Swiss to a first final in 22 years, beating Fabio Fognini of Italy in the opening reverse singles yesterday for a winning 3-1 lead in their semifinal. France will host the final on November 21-23.

Federer celebrated with skipping jumps across the court on completing a 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win against the 17th-ranked Fognini.
“It’s fabulous to share in this moment,” Federer said in an on-court interview after being hoisted on the shoulders of Wawrinka and captain Severin Luethi for a lap of honour round the court.

Their celebrations delighted a noisy 18,000-plus crowd at Palexpo indoor arena.
Switzerland reached the final only once before, in 1992 against a United States team of Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras.

“It’s nice that we are going to have the opportunity to do something very special at the end of the year,” Federer said at the winning team’s news conference. In Federer’s only previous Davis Cup semifinal 11 years ago, he lost a decisive reverse singles match against Lleyton Hewitt in Australia.

At age 33, Federer now has his best chance to add one of the few titles to elude him. —  CTVnews.