Federer To Lead Switzerland In Davis Cup Final Against Tsonga, Monfils And Deep French Team

The transition from hard to clay will be very tough for the Swiss duo. If they can find their feet on clay and are not too tired, the Swiss could still surprise us. All the french guys must be quite used to the surface by now since none of them has qualified for London. I think France will win the doubles and that would be a huge advantage for them. The greater depth in their squad could ultimately prove to be decisive.

November 11th, 2014 at 1:37 pm

Tsonga and Monfils both trouble Fed. Monfils was a hair from beating Fed at USO.
I’m not sure about choosing Gasquet over Simon, Simon has been really good lately. But I guess they won’t be singles choices anyway, with Tsonga and Monfils.

Definitely a lot of star power in this match up.

November 11th, 2014 at 1:42 pm

This is really too close to call. Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

November 11th, 2014 at 2:44 pm

rogerafa
momentum of playing eachother in final andere possible #1 for Federer will be enough to carry them through.

November 11th, 2014 at 3:15 pm

Allez France!
Vamos France!

November 11th, 2014 at 4:02 pm

Interesting that the Rafa brigade would root for France seeing as how the French have not only booed Nadal, but mocked him as well. Plus they all think he’s on roids. But as long as Federer can’t add to his resume, that’s all ok ;)

November 11th, 2014 at 4:49 pm

Ben only Giles from what i can see,dont put words into all Rafa fans mouths,its most unfair….

November 11th, 2014 at 5:24 pm

I’m French but I’m 100% behind Federer. It’s terrible to say that. I’m full of shame but I would prefer Rodger and Stan lifting the trophy.

Gilles Simon said that he was very concerned that part of the public will not be tough with Federer like if it was Nadal. He is right. I have read many comments on French tennis websites sharing my view.

If there is 1-1 at the end of Friday, Swiss will win and I already said here that I wouldn’t be surprised that Fed and Stan don’t play the double.

For sure, that will be an awesome week-end!

November 11th, 2014 at 8:44 pm

who chose the surface? if it’s france i am very surprised as both roger and stan are great on clay. monfils is better on faster surfaces and i think gasquet has had more success on hard than clay too. tsonga also seems like a better fast court player. how weird that they’d choose clay?

November 11th, 2014 at 8:47 pm

Picking “The Best Forehand in Switzerland” or ” The Second Best Backhand in Switzerland” or whatever to get it done with Stan the Man. It’s their time. French players have just never done it for me. They seem to generally lack the killer instinct to win the big one (…sorry Mr. Noah, it’s been a long time since you won at RG).

November 11th, 2014 at 8:51 pm

Henri Leconte, Guy Forget, JW Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Cedric Pioline & Richard Gasquet. Total slam count…ZERO! They pretty much all had or have beautiful games and for whatever reason, they alarmingly underachieve. It’s no wonder the folks in France seem so unhappy. They’ve experienced almost nothing but tennis heartbreak since the time of the Three Musketeers. I think a strike against French tennis is in order.

November 11th, 2014 at 8:59 pm

They are picking clay to sabotage themselves. No other explanation.

November 11th, 2014 at 9:00 pm

Probably would have picked red clay if they were playing a Nadal led Spanish team. Seems to make no sense.

November 11th, 2014 at 9:02 pm

My assumption is that they thought it would be a hard transition for Stan and Rog. Clearly those guys have better clay resumes.

On the other hand, we could say that about any surface. So that pretty much tells you who the favourites are.

November 11th, 2014 at 9:30 pm

They should have gone with grass. Definitely grass.

November 11th, 2014 at 9:35 pm

The more I think about it, the bigger favourites the Swiss become. They are underdogs in all 4 singles matches. Being inconsistently brilliant players, they have a punchers shot in any one match, but to do that again and again?

November 11th, 2014 at 9:38 pm

Sorry, I meant the FRENCH are underdogs in each singles match

November 11th, 2014 at 9:38 pm

I wouldn’t write off French, we might be in for surprise. I just wonder if Swiss is to lose, whose fault that’ll be? I guess Stan’s..again.

November 11th, 2014 at 9:52 pm

i still don’t get the clay choice; how bizarre. mon dieu! self-sabbotage it is. ;)

November 12th, 2014 at 12:06 am

jane, it wouldn’t be the first time French self-sabbotage, in 2010 DC final in Belgrade, Guy Forget put Llodra to play fifth decider against Serbia against Troicki, and left Simon on the bench.
If anybody told me before final that Troicki will be a hero I would lough but he became hero of Serbian team winning decider against Llodra. Guy Forget was trying to explain that Llodra choice was right but nobody bought it. I felt sorry for Llodra, he couldn’t stop crying after he lost decider, but I was happy for Serbia winning their first DC.

November 12th, 2014 at 1:22 am

how strange hey wog boy? yeah, now that you mention it, i remember that. of course i was happy to see nole shave his head but sad to see llodra in tears.

November 12th, 2014 at 1:26 am

jane, when you mentioned Nole shaving his head, I hope Stefan didn’t inherit Nole’s ears. They are nice, don’t get me wrong, just not proportional;)

November 12th, 2014 at 1:38 am

ha ha. well what can you do? if he inherited nole’s tennis ability, then he’ll be okay.

November 12th, 2014 at 1:56 am

^^just joking, nobody’s ears look nice when they shave their heads.
Don’t kick me out of Nole fans family…please:(

November 12th, 2014 at 1:56 am

Remember DC 2012 Swiss v US on indoor clay?? The US annihilated the Swiss 5-0. I guess that’s why the French have chosen clay as the playing surface hoping history can repeat itself.
Allez France!
Vamos France!

November 12th, 2014 at 3:20 am

Ben Pronin. Didn’t the fedfanatics say that DC was an unimportant event and that fed not having it in his resume did not matter?
Short memory I say! Lol

November 12th, 2014 at 3:30 am

Now all the French need is their man with the drum. He is the best!! Lol
BTW I am just teasing. Couldn’t give a rat’s @$$ who wins!

November 12th, 2014 at 3:39 am

Forget seems to have a down on Simon. Idiot.

November 12th, 2014 at 6:53 am

I don’t think anyone has ever said that DC is unimportant. It’s not a slam, or even the number 1 ranking, but it’s still a prized event for the players. But when clowns try to point out how Nadal has “3” titles to his name, it’s not exactly fair since he never plays away ties and wasn’t even in one of the finals. But that’s besides the point…

I don’t see why everyone is confused about the surface. That Wawrinka and Federer will have a tuogher time transitioning is surely an important factor. And I wouldn’t really say Monfils is better on fast surfaces. He’s pretty good on clay. So is Gasquet. Tsonga, if he’s playing well, can do damage on any surface, too. He reached the French Open semi just last year after manhandling Federer in the quarters. Only Simon isn’t that great on clay but he can still do well. You guys are acting like this is the US picking outdoor clay against a Nadal-led Spanish team. It’s really not a terrible choice for them.

November 12th, 2014 at 8:47 am

nobody’s ears look nice when they shave their heads.
—
Wogboy,

Your deep analysis impresses me.

November 12th, 2014 at 9:10 am

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Choker #1. I choose tennis because in boxing, if I choke, it won’t be nice)

Gael Monfils (Enjoy my theatric, know that the inevitable choke is coming)

Julien Benneteau ( I only choke in finals, I am better than the other two)

Richard Gasquet ( I am Humble’s best friend. I am happy to continue the national tradition of choking whenever possible)

Captain: Arnaud Clement (I am the Chokista, leading a bunch of jokers on a choking trip)

November 12th, 2014 at 9:14 am

Funniest post in a long time, Humble!

November 12th, 2014 at 9:31 am

Ben, never bust a man’s straw man. It’s cruel.

November 12th, 2014 at 10:33 am

@9:14
At least they make funny cartoons, I saw you in one.

November 12th, 2014 at 10:53 am