Help
2/10/12 8:56 PM | Ricky Dimon
John Isner upsets Roger Federer in four sets on Friday in Switzerland. The win gives the visiting United States a commanding 2-0 advantage in the first round of the Davis Cup.
John Isner stunned Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the second Davis Cup singles rubber between the United States and Switzerland on Friday evening. Following Mardy Fish's marathon five-set victory over Stanislas Wawrinka, the visiting Americans hold a surprising 2-0 lead.
Federer started off well enough in his an attempt to get the momentum back for his Swiss squad. He won only eight return points in the first set, but four those came in the same game and led to a break for 2-1. Federer won all 14 of his first-serve points in the opener and closed out the set with a routine hold at 5-4.
Although Isner did not serve particularly well in the second, he picked up the pace with his all-court game. The 6'9'' American was in danger of facing a huge deficit early, but he fought off a break point in the first game of the set and managed to hold. His initial break of the day came in a marathon game at 3-2 during which Isner finally converted his sixth opportunity. Isner fought off one more break point at 4-2 before enjoying a more routine service game at 5-3 to finish off the set.
Both players held the entire way throughout the third, with Isner saving five break points and Federer saving three. Isner seized a mini-break on the first point of the tiebreaker en route to a 3-0 lead. The underdog gave it back at 4-2, but he earned another return point when Federer netted a forehand pass attempt at 4-4. Isner promptly held both of his service points, clinching the set with a forehand drop-volley at 6-4.
Federer's last gasp came at 2-2 in the fourth, as his opponent faced a 0-40 deficit. When Isner erased the chance and won five consecutive points to hold, it was all but over. The world No. 17 ended the match on a four-game winning streak, seizing breaks at 3-2 and 5-2 to finish off the upset in style. Isner capitalized on his first match point with a crushing backhand return winner.
"I played really well today," said Isner, who struck 51 winners and 31 unforced errors. "I shouldn't take the court if I don't believe I can go out there and win this match. It was the biggest win of my career. That's for sure. But what it means to me is our team is up 2-0."
Added USA captain Jim Courier: "You never know what you're going to get in Davis Cup."
Find the latest tennis odds at Unibet.com
Tell a friend »
It's possible for the Swiss to lose both the reverse singles.
nadline , 2/10/12 9:48 PM
Swiss should have gone with one of those fast Basel/Paris/World Tour Final hardcourt surfaces. When's the last time Fed lost on one of those???
Conspirator , 2/10/12 10:14 PM
Well conspirator... I must admit your comment sound like Fed is still someone in tennis World :)
zare , 2/10/12 10:37 PM
He's not? Wasn't aware. Well on indoor hard court he is, no? Maybe they can lay some boards on top of the red dirt before his next match!
Conspirator , 2/11/12 1:57 AM
Swiss assumed Federer would win both matches
they chose the surface hoping to get one win out of Wawrinka. Their best chance of that is on clay. It still has a chance to pay off, if Switzerland wins dubs and fourth rubber.
RickyDimon , 2/11/12 3:24 AM
Well Ricky the only thing I can add to that is...
ANOTHER WIN FOR MILOS!!!!
Conspirator , 2/11/12 3:56 AM
Well ok, keep the clay but maybe they can make it more indoors-y then?
<wink><wink>
Conspirator , 2/11/12 4:07 AM
Conspirator, nice one ;) Good to start day with a smile here in blooming, freezing UK.
deuce , 2/11/12 9:17 AM
?I thought he played great,? Federer said. ?He played it tough and served great when he had to. I just missed a couple more opportunities than he did and that?s what cost me the match.?
Is cloud cuckoo land in Switzerland?
nadline , 2/11/12 9:53 AM
nadline, after all cuckoo clock land IS actually in Switzerland, so cloud cuckoo clock land could really be there too ;)
deuce , 2/11/12 10:58 AM
Congrats to Isner and team USA and may the best team win.
schatz , 2/11/12 12:36 PM
@deuce , 2/11/12 10:58 AM
No wonder Federer believes he just missed a couple of opportunities which was what cost him the match.
nadline , 2/11/12 1:16 PM
The spectators were very quiet because 'genius' was at work.
nadline , 2/11/12 1:56 PM
Playing giants is always a 'tall' order, having said that, Federer seemed unprepared probably coming into the match thinking Isner was all serve. He was taken unawares and didn't seem to know what to do.
nadline , 2/11/12 2:04 PM
Fantastic doubles match with the best pair winning .All the stats of the match prove that too .Many congrats to the USA team
sals3 , 2/11/12 5:28 PM
Do you guys think the US performance on clay in Davis Cup can translate to success at Roland Garros? I know its a ways off, but I am hoping the Americans can make a run at the French.
msj9754 , 2/11/12 11:47 PM
Isner is probably the only one consistent enough on clay to make a run to the second week, but he definitely has QF potential at RG
Fish just isn't consistent enough. He won't be able to string more than one or two good matches together on red clay. He also has to work too hard to win. He'll probably win his first round in 5 hours then be gassed.
Isner will just serve people off the court and have plenty left in the tank. He won't have to play Nadal R1 (or R2 or R3) this year!!!
RickyDimon , 2/13/12 4:20 PM
^^^^Ricky have you seen the RG draw????
nadline , 2/13/12 5:07 PM
Isner is seeded for the French Open this time, eliminating the chance he can play Nadal R1 or R2
I'm pretty sure he is a lock (not going to bother calculating the exact numbers) to be no worse than the #24 seed, eliminating the possibility that he could play Nadal before R4.
RickyDimon , 2/13/12 6:11 PM
Of course. I forgot that he has moved up the rankings since RG last year. I'm sure Isner doesn't want to draw Rafa anywhere, anytime and vice versa.
nadline , 2/13/12 6:58 PM
Isner is for reals on the dirt beating Fed at DC and taking Rafa to 5 sets last year. Ricky, your top 10 for Izzy is looking better all the time - well done.
Conspirator predicts Isner to be in Rafa's FO half as early as R3 and Federer to be in Nole's half (given his win last year).
Conspirator , 2/15/12 6:36 PM
How can Isner and Rafa meet in R3, given Isner's ranking? Unless Isner slips in his ranking before the FO, the earliest they can meet is R4. If Isner is into top 10 before FO, then they can only meet in QF the earliest.
luckystar , 2/15/12 7:04 PM
Isner has nothing to defend until FO other than R4 at Miami (which he should defend). So there is now way he can play Nadal or anyone else in the Top 8 until R4 of the French.
Conspir - he also took Djokovic to 5 on clay
RickyDimon , 2/15/12 8:21 PM
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2013, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
This isn't close to over, not by a longshot. I wouldn't be too confident in the doubles point even if both Bryans were in action, they already lost to Fewawa at the Olympics. Though Isner has beaten Wawrinka on clay before...
ts38 , 2/10/12 9:18 PM