Press
Roger Federer will be first up for Switzerland in the 2006 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Play-off against Serbia & Montenegro* in the Geneva Palexpo on Friday. He will face Janko Tipsarevic in the first rubber, before countryman Stanislas Wawrinka takes to the court against Serbian No.1 Novak Djokovic. The full draw is as follows: Roger Federer (SUI) v Janko Tipsarevic (SCG)
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v Novak Djokovic (SCG)
Yves Allegro/Roger Federer (SUI) v Ilija Bozoljac (SCG)
Roger Federer (SUI) v Novak Djokovic (SCG
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v Janko Tipsarevic (SCG)
After opting out of Febuary’s World Group first round match against Australia, world No. 1 Roger Federer, fresh from his victory at the US Open will be determined to keep Switzerland in the World Group for the twelfth consecutive year.
Federer is raring to go: “It’s been a year since I played my last Davis Cup match so I hope, of course, to take those great matches I played last year in singles and doubles over to this year. I have great momentum at the moment, great confidence obviously. This year has been absolutely incredible, so I hope I can keep the streak up.”
Janko Tipsarevic, who will face Federer in the first rubber at 1300 local time tomorrow was positive but realistic.
“The idea in the whole match is we have to think positive and to go to win the match, even if I am playing against Federer and my chances are very, lets say, slim to win, I have to go on the court with the idea to win the match which will buff up the spirit of the whole team in the matches to come”
Second rubber too close to call
The second rubber will be fascinating. Wawrinka, currently ranked 44, and Djokovic, now ranked 21, are both on the up. Both recently won their first ATP tour events, Djokovic winning at Amersfoort in mid July, and Wawrinka taking the Umag title. (He defeated Djokovic in the final, the Serb retiring with breathing problems when 3-1 up in the first set tie break). The match looks too close to call. Djokovic leads their head-to-head series 2-1. We should expect some sublime backhand winners from both players, this being their finest stroke.
"You never know will happen in Davis Cup"
Novak Djokovic summed up the feeling of the Serbian camp: “Switzerland is the favourite in this tie and we all know that. Every team with a Federer, with a best player in the world is stronger, but we came here pretty positive and confident and we think we can go out from this tie as the winners. I think we should stay this way because this is the Davis Cup and its another competition, very specific and you never know what can happen. You play for your country, tennis is an individual sport and this is the only team competition that is really important for everybody. It’s a special feeling to play for the country and I think we all know that and we will give a 100 per cent on court on all three days and we will see”
* Note: This is, in fact, Serbia & Montenegro's last Davis Cup tie, as the two nations will compete separately from next year following Montenegro's vote for independence from earlier this year.
Added by: Yana (2007-01-18)
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