Saturday, 11 February 2012

USA Knock Swiss Out of Davis



Switzerland crashed out of the Davis Cup to the United States as Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan defeated Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka in four sets.

The Americans powered to a 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 win in Fribourg to put them through to the last eight of the competition.

The doubles defeat completes a poor return to Davis Cup action after nine years for Federer, who lost his singles game to John Isner on Friday.

The United States now holds an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.

The American duo looked at ease as they dispatched a Swiss pairing who had won the 2008 Olympics doubles title.

Jim Courier's team now progress to face another trip to either France or Canada.

For Mike Bryan, partnering Fish because his regular partner, his brother Bob Bryan, was attending his first child's birth, the win makes it 11 unbeaten away matches in the Davis Cup.

"This is probably going down as one of the most memorable (wins)," he said.

"It' s great that the guy I have to tee it up with is the best doubles player ever. I'm just trying to do my part," added Fish, who defeated Wawrinka in a match lasting more than four hours on Friday.

In a contest of few service breaks, Fish and Bryan seized on Wawrinka errors to take the second and third sets.

In the fourth, a Bryan volley sailed past the stationary Swiss to seal the victory, but there were boos from sections of the home crowd, who had been angered when a smashed forehand from the Californian hit world number three Federer.

"I wasn't trying to hit anybody. It happens in doubles... I've seen it 100 times," Bryan explained.

Switzerland v United States
Mardy Fish beat Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2 4-6 4-6 6-1 9-7
John Isner beat Roger Federer 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-2
Mardy Fish & Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer & Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3