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Swiss Skeptics Of Roger Rescue Mission
By Alberto Amalfi
© Andy Kentla © Natasha Peterson/Corleve
(September 21, 2010) As Switzerland crawls from the wreckage that was its worst Davis Cup thrashing in 14 years — a humbling 5-0 beating at the hands of upstart Kazakhstan last weekend — Swiss Davis Cup leaders aren't exactly viewing Roger Federer, who pulled out of the tie 48 hours before the first ball was struck on Friday, as a one-man rescue mission.
Switzerland was relegated to 2011 Europe/African group. A team featuring 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer and his Olympic gold medal doubles partner Stan Wawrinka would have been formidable, but Swiss officials say they won't build their plans around Federer.
"The door is still open for Federer but the team will not be unconditionally directed around him," Erik Keller, chairman of Swiss Tennis's Davis Cup committee, told Swiss media in Astana, in comments published by Reuters. "We will not allow professional organization to be shaken."
A dedicated Davis Cup player for much of his career, Federer owns a 37-11 record overall, including a 27-6 singles mark, in the event. He has curtailed his Davis Cup schedule considerably in recent years. Federer withdrew from the highly-anticipated 2009 Davis Cup World Group tie against the United States in Birmingham. The USA beat a Federerless Swiss squad, 4-1. He returned to the international team competition last September, scoring singles wins to lead Switzerland to a 3-2 win over host Italy on the red clay of Genoa.
Since 2005, Federer's Davis Cup appearances have been confined to World Group Playoff ties.
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