LILLE, France (AP) – Roger Federer defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in the first reverse singles match today as Switzerland won the Davis Cup final against France by taking an unassailable 3-1 lead.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion gave Switzerland their first title in the team competition and added the only big trophy in tennis missing from his collection.
The 33-year-old Federer and Stan Wawrinka had put Switzerland into a 2-1 lead yesterday with a straight sets defeat of Gasquet and Julien Benneteau in the doubles.
Federer was thrashed by Gael Monfils in his first singles match after struggling with a bad back but recovered as the weekend progressed and did not face a break point today.
“I’m happy I was able to stay calm and play a good match, and I’m really happy for the guys in the team, everybody worked incredibly hard to get me match ready,” Federer said.
“Stan has put in so much effort over the years and played an unbelievable weekend that gave me the opportunity today. I’m very much aware of that, this one is for the boys.”
It took 15 years for the former top-ranked Federer to achieve glory in the Davis Cup after making his debut in the prestigious event in 1999. He fell on his knees after converting his first match point and laid face down on the court before hugging team captain Severin Luthi and his teammates.
