LILLE, France (AP) – Roger Federer will have the chance to clinch the last big prize in tennis eluding him.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion and Stan Wawrinka swept aside Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in the doubles to put Switzerland into a 2-1 lead against France in the Davis Cup final yesterday.
Federer can secure the decisive point against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first reverse singles today. If Tsonga wins, Wawrinka and Gael Monfils will decide the final.
Despite a humbling straight-sets loss to Monfils on the opening day, the 33-year-old Federer put his back problems behind him to produce a superb display against a French pair that failed to seize its chances in the second set.
Federer and Wawrinka, who won doubles gold at the 2008 Olympics, ended a four-game losing streak in Davis Cup at the right time, and posted their first win together in the event in three years. It was also their first doubles win on clay.
