Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/441551
ITFWORLD WINTER 2014 21 www.itftennis.com adding to their nine trophies to overtake Great Britain in third place behind the United States (32) and Australia (28) in one of sport's oldest international team events. Their path to the 2014 final, with all ties at home, two on clay, promised much: 5-0 against Australia, 3-2 against Germany and 4-1 against the defending champions Czech Republic. But theirs was a ragged final, marred by confusion in selection and injury to Tsonga that prevented him playing in the reverse singles. Gasquet gave of his best in his place, but it was never going to be good enough against Federer with history in his sights. The season belonged to Switzerland — or, to be blunt, to Federer and Wawrinka. Having waited so long, they want to do it again. It would be asking a lot of them, but not many would bet against it. played some of the most inspired tennis of his career to beat Federer in the second match on day one. Rumours spread that the world No. 2 would not be fit enough to continue, but Severin Luthi, the Swiss captain, gambled on his two best players again in the doubles on the Saturday, and they delivered, seeing off the occasional partnership of Gasquet and Julien Benneteau. Federer, somehow, had played himself back to fitness and something like his best form. Then he sealed it on the Sunday. Ten years after losing to Gasquet the first time they met, on the clay of Monte Carlo, Federer beat the talented but inconsistent Frenchman for the 13th time in 15 matches. Few victories were sweeter. What a year it was for the men from the mountains. They beat the 2013 finalists Serbia 3-2 away, Kazakhstan 3-2 at home, and Great Britain's quarterfinal conquerors, Italy, 3-2, also at home, to get to the final, then survived an emotional rollercoaster in the last couple of weeks. They partied long into the night in Lille, Federer nursing the patched-up souvenir on his elbow, Wawrinka leading the charge to the champagne, then they all went home together — Federer, Wawrinka, Luthi, as well as the players not needed, Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer — to soak up the acclaim of their fans, and it was no surprise when, early in December, they were named their country's sports team of the year. For France, there was mainly ennui, followed, inevitably, by debate. It was the French who had the Davis Cup pedigree and they had hopes of Richard Gasquet replaced Tsonga on Sunday French captain Arnaud Clement attempts to lift Tsonga The 2,700 Swiss fans made plenty of noise