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Federer chases Davis Cup title

LOS ANGELES — Tennis Channel will provide exclusive live coverage of Switzerland’s and France’s Davis Cup final competition in Lille, France, this weekend, beginning Friday, Nov. 21, at 8 a.m. ET. The eyes of the sports world will be on Swiss star Roger Federer, who seeks to add an elusive Davis Cup championship to an already highly decorated legacy. One of the greatest players of all time, Federer has set records throughout his career, and holds 17 overall Grand Slam singles titles, along with Olympic gold and silver medals in doubles and singles, respectively.

Adding a Davis Cup championship will not be an easy feat, however, as France is playing on home soil and is tied for third on the Davis Cup all-time champions list. Highlighting the competition, Federer will face France’s top-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the first time since the ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto in August, when Tsonga defeated the Swiss star to win the title. However, Federer has the career upper hand, holding an 11-5 record against the Frenchman.

The year-end championship competition will consist of two singles matches on Friday, Nov. 21, at 8 a.m. ET, followed by the doubles match Saturday, Nov. 22,at 9:30 a.m. ET. Tennis Channel’s coverage concludes with the remaining singles play Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7 a.m. ET. Each of the five matches is worth one point, with the team that wins at least three points winning the Davis Cup title. Each afternoon Tennis Channel will offer an encore presentation of the day’s Davis Cup action.

Emmy Award-winning announcer Brett Haber (@BrettHaber) will handle play-by-play responsibilities during Tennis Channel’s Davis Cup coverage this weekend, with former U.S. Davis Cup player Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob) in the analyst’s role.

Coverage from Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille, France (ET, subject to change):

Friday, Nov. 21:

8 a.m. - Live Singles #1
11 a.m. - Live Singles #2
{2:30 p.m. - Instant Encore Singles #1}
{8 p.m. - Instant Encore Singles #1}
{11p.m. - Instant Encore Singles #2}

Saturday, Nov. 22:

9:30 a.m. - Live Doubles
{2 p.m. - Instant Encore Doubles}
{8 p.m. - Instant Encore Doubles}
{11:30 p.m. - Instant Encore Doubles}

Sunday, Nov. 23:

7 a.m. - Live Singles #1
10 a.m. - Live Singles #2
{2 p.m. - Instant Encore Singles #1}
{8 p.m. - Instant Encore Singles #1}
{11 p.m. - Instant Encore Singles #2}

France and Switzerland have met 12 times in Davis Cup play, with France holding a 10-2 advantage. The most recent competition was during the 2004 Davis Cup quarterfinal, when the French won 3-2. However, the Swiss team has two top-five ranked players with Federer and World No. 4 Stan Wawrinka and hopes to win its first Davis Cup title.

Switzerland enters this weekend’s championship round for the first time since 1992 after defeating Italy 3-2 during this year’s semifinals. The Swiss team is captained by Severin Luthi and features Federer, Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer.

France enters the competition after a 4-1 semifinal victory over two-time defending champion Czech Republic, and is bidding to win its 10th Davis Cup title. France’s captain Arnaud Clement will lead Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Julien Benneteau into the finals this weekend.

Posted on November 20, 2014
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