Americans Must Strike Early, Often to Beat Swiss
By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
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If the American’s are to have any chance of defeating the Swiss this weekend in Davis Cup play, this much is true: Mardy Fish must defeat Stan Wawrinka in the opening match. If he doesn’t he will leave John Isner with the unenviable task of having to defeat Roger Federer to draw the Americans even at the conclusion of day 1.
If that doesn’t happen, well, you know the rest…
There has only been one comeback from 0-2 down in Davis Cup World Group play since 1999, and with the Americans far from home and playing on their least favorite surface, they hardly seem like a candidate to be the second.
For the Americans it’s a difficult road to hoe, but for world No. 8 Mardy Fish, who is looking to redeem himself after a lukewarm Australian summer, beating Wawrinka could be his ticket to turning the young season around. Fish is undefeated against Wawrinka in their two previous matches, so there is that. And there’s also the fact that Fish is anxious to set the tone for the 32-time Davis Cup champions. "I prefer to play first," Fish told reporters at the draw ceremony. "I like to know when I am playing. On a team note, I would also like to get the team off to a good start."
With a Federer-led Swiss team eager to reach the World Group quarterfinals for the first time since 2004, the Americans will need to start strong, stay strong and finish strong. Not only are Federer and Wawrinka superior clay court players, the doubles team of Federer and Wawrinka is an Olympic gold medal-winning tandem that figures to be favored against the Bob Bryan-less American team of Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison (Bob Bryan is home celebrating the birth of his first daughter).
But the Americans, always eager for a battle even if it is an uphill one, are not shying from the challenge. Isner will face Federer in tomorrow’s second match, and he’s not conceding anything. The 6’9” fireballer is not known for clay-court prowess, but don’t forget that Isner pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets on the red clay in Roland Garros last year, and he gained confidence on the surface as a result.
"Taking him (Nadal) to five sets will give you some confidence heading into your next clay-court match, even though it was nine months ago I played that match," Isner told reporters. "l know what I am capable of. I gave him a good scare, and I am hoping to do the same tomorrow against Roger. I am going to go out there and try my best to win."
U.S.A vs. Switzerland, Davis Cup, World Group First Round, Friday, February 10 – Sunday February 12
Friday:
Mardy Fish vs. Stan Wawrinka (Fish leads H2H 2-0)
John Isner vs. Roger Federer (Federer leads H2H 2-0)
Saturday (doubles):
*Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison vs. Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka
Sunday:
*Mardy Fish vs. Roger Federer (Federer leads H2H 7-1)
*John Isner vs. Stan Wawrinka (Isner leads H2H 2-1)
*Captains may substitute for Saturday’s and Sunday’s participants up to one hour before play begins.