In September 2003, Lleyton Hewitt defeated Roger Federer at Rod Laver Arena in the Davis Cup semi-finals, rebounding from straight sets to a deficit to secure Australia’s victory over Switzerland.
Starting in 2005, Roger assisted his country in the World Group qualifiers for five consecutive years, missing out on competition in 2010 when Switzerland dropped out of the elite level.
Federer led them twice in 2011 against Portugal and Australia, sending Switzerland back to the World Group and welcoming the United States in the first round in 2012 in Freiburg on indoor clay.
Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer were there to defend the national colors in front of home fans, but it wasn’t for them, having suffered a serious 5-0 loss and propelling the Americans into the quarters.
On February 10, John Isner defeated Roger Federer with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 to send the USA 2-0 ahead, as Mardy Fish won over Stan Wawrinka in 9-7 in the deciding first set after four hours and 26 minutes.
It was Roger’s first Davis Cup singles loss since that mentioned against Lleyton eight and a half years earlier, losing ground to the rival who did everything to push the United States closer to the finish line. .
Roger took a break in game three of the opener and drove it home with a zero catch in game ten after 29 minutes. Isner forged the lead in game six of the second set when the Swiss landed an easy forehand and served for the set at 5-3 with an ace.
Gaining momentum, the American fought off three break opportunities in game six of the third set with courageous strikes that kept him on the positive side of the table.
Roger Federer at the 2012 Davis Cup.
Roger Federer lost to John Isner on clay in the Davis Cup in 2012. A winning forehand was there to bring Isner out in the eighth game, keeping in touch and taking a tie-break at 7-4 with a winning volley for take a big step towards the finish line.
The American fended off three break opportunities in the fifth game of the fourth set and closed it with a winning forehand. John stole Roger’s serve on the next game and rose to the top with a winning comeback at 5-2 to produce one of his most important career wins.
“I thought he was playing really well. He was tough and served well when needed. I missed a few more chances than him, and that’s what cost me the game,” said Roger Federer.
“It feels good, it’s a massive win for me, the biggest of my career, and it makes me proud. We’re off to a 2-0 start, which is great. That was our goal for today. hui, and we accomplished it.
Mardy put in a big effort in the first game, and it took a lot of pressure off me. We have both achieved huge triumphs. When I play against Roger, I don’t want to have basic trades with him because he’s going to win the majority of them, clearly and simply.
I needed to go out there and hit my punches big and attack them, using controlled aggression as much as possible. I was on a break and had absolutely nothing to lose.
Whatever the score, I just tried not to let the score dictate how I play. So when I was in a hole, I continued with my strikes. If I miss it, so be it; that’s how it’s gonna be.
The goal was to keep the exchanges as short as possible, especially in my games. I was happy with the conditions there. I don’t mind playing on clay. It gives me more time, which I sometimes need.
Clay is not such a bad surface for me. With my game, I don’t need to adjust my way of playing my opponent. It doesn’t matter if I play against Federer, or against an 800th ranked player in the world, I have to play the same way.
Captain Courier kept it simple and fair with me. Without him in my ear this week, I wouldn’t have won this game; he did a great job, ”John Isner said.
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