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| Roger Federer’s back problem leaves Davis Cup final on knife edge | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Roger Federer, smiling but cautious after a light Thursday morning workout on his suspect back, admitted he is not 100% fit, but promised to “give it a go” against Gaël Monfils when the Davis Cup final begins in the impressive Stade Pierre Mauroy on Friday. | Roger Federer, smiling but cautious after a light Thursday morning workout on his suspect back, admitted he is not 100% fit, but promised to “give it a go” against Gaël Monfils when the Davis Cup final begins in the impressive Stade Pierre Mauroy on Friday. |
| “Obviously if I’m stepping out on the court, that means I can play,” the world No2 said. “It’s a difficult match regardless – for anybody, for me as well. If I were 100%, it would be tough in itself because of the crowd, because of the opponent. In the first round of a tournament, nobody knows what’s going on. Indoor clay is something [where] we don’t quite know. There’s a lot of question marks for everybody, including myself. | “Obviously if I’m stepping out on the court, that means I can play,” the world No2 said. “It’s a difficult match regardless – for anybody, for me as well. If I were 100%, it would be tough in itself because of the crowd, because of the opponent. In the first round of a tournament, nobody knows what’s going on. Indoor clay is something [where] we don’t quite know. There’s a lot of question marks for everybody, including myself. |
| “We’ll see. Only the match gives you all the answers. Today in practice it wasn’t the goal to go to 100% – I never do in practice the day before a match. I’m just really pleased I’m actually able to play. I’ll give it a go. It’s been a difficult week, but I’m happy where I am today. | “We’ll see. Only the match gives you all the answers. Today in practice it wasn’t the goal to go to 100% – I never do in practice the day before a match. I’m just really pleased I’m actually able to play. I’ll give it a go. It’s been a difficult week, but I’m happy where I am today. |
| “I’m not being negative. Sunday evening, Monday, I was more negative. I was wondering about the percentages of risk, but now I’m on the positive side.” | “I’m not being negative. Sunday evening, Monday, I was more negative. I was wondering about the percentages of risk, but now I’m on the positive side.” |
| Even if Switzerland win both first-day singles – Stan Wawrinka, the world No4, plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga first up – Federer is not certain to play in the reverse singles on Sunday. Sources say he was not exactly moving like an angel on the practice court. | Even if Switzerland win both first-day singles – Stan Wawrinka, the world No4, plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga first up – Federer is not certain to play in the reverse singles on Sunday. Sources say he was not exactly moving like an angel on the practice court. |
| Before Federer suffered back trouble went when beating Wawrinka in their tense semi-final of the ATP World Tour finals in London last weekend, the plan was for both him and Wawrinka to contest all five matches – including the Saturday doubles – even though they are 0-4 as a pair in the competition. | Before Federer suffered back trouble went when beating Wawrinka in their tense semi-final of the ATP World Tour finals in London last weekend, the plan was for both him and Wawrinka to contest all five matches – including the Saturday doubles – even though they are 0-4 as a pair in the competition. |
| If France were to go 2-0 up, however, or if the tie were level, it is unlikely the Swiss captain, Severin Lüthi, would ask his two best players to keep the tie alive, having watched Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer practising diligently this week and naming them at the draw on Thursday to meet Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet. | If France were to go 2-0 up, however, or if the tie were level, it is unlikely the Swiss captain, Severin Lüthi, would ask his two best players to keep the tie alive, having watched Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer practising diligently this week and naming them at the draw on Thursday to meet Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet. |
| Should Federer’s back give out on him again during the final, France would become favourites to lift the trophy. “I’ve had back pain many times in my life, in my career, not just only in the last few years, but also back in almost junior days,” Federer said. “I can definitely draw from some experience. I know what’s possible and what’s not. I know how much I can push. That’s going to be interesting to see.” | Should Federer’s back give out on him again during the final, France would become favourites to lift the trophy. “I’ve had back pain many times in my life, in my career, not just only in the last few years, but also back in almost junior days,” Federer said. “I can definitely draw from some experience. I know what’s possible and what’s not. I know how much I can push. That’s going to be interesting to see.” |
| There will be a minimum of 27,000 very loud and mostly French fans to witness the three-day final in a setting that will resemble a football match. The attendance could even break the tournament record of 27,200 when Spain beat the United States at the Olympic Stadium in Seville eight years ago. It is reasonable to observe, however, that, had Federer not been playing, the International Tennis Federation would not have needed a venue this big. Tickets sold out within two hours of going on sale, with the French federation setting aside a few too many for corporate guests, according to Swiss fans. | There will be a minimum of 27,000 very loud and mostly French fans to witness the three-day final in a setting that will resemble a football match. The attendance could even break the tournament record of 27,200 when Spain beat the United States at the Olympic Stadium in Seville eight years ago. It is reasonable to observe, however, that, had Federer not been playing, the International Tennis Federation would not have needed a venue this big. Tickets sold out within two hours of going on sale, with the French federation setting aside a few too many for corporate guests, according to Swiss fans. |
| The psychic momentum looks to be with the French team after the minor spat between Wawrinka and Federer’s wife, Mirka, towards the end of their match in Greenwich last weekend, but the hosts are on guard. | The psychic momentum looks to be with the French team after the minor spat between Wawrinka and Federer’s wife, Mirka, towards the end of their match in Greenwich last weekend, but the hosts are on guard. |
| Federer may be hurting physically and Wawrinka’s sensitivities probably were bruised by Mrs Federer – although, as her Swiss-French is about as poor as Stan’s Swiss-German, it was never going to be the debate of the century. Did Mirka really call Stan a “cry baby”? The evidence is inconclusive, but it fair to say she was not shouting, “Come on, Stan, you can beat this guy!” | Federer may be hurting physically and Wawrinka’s sensitivities probably were bruised by Mrs Federer – although, as her Swiss-French is about as poor as Stan’s Swiss-German, it was never going to be the debate of the century. Did Mirka really call Stan a “cry baby”? The evidence is inconclusive, but it fair to say she was not shouting, “Come on, Stan, you can beat this guy!” |
| Equally, she will be right behind both Wawrinka and her husband on Friday, along with the other 3,000 or so Swiss fans who have managed to get a ticket to what should be a rousing conclusion to the season. | Equally, she will be right behind both Wawrinka and her husband on Friday, along with the other 3,000 or so Swiss fans who have managed to get a ticket to what should be a rousing conclusion to the season. |