Federer seeks Davis Cup consecration

The 33-year-old tennis superstar will be playing in his first Davis Cup final and as a partner will have long-time accomplice Stan Wawrinka. The build-up to the final has been dominated by the fallout from last Saturday’s gruelling clash in London between Federer and Wawrinka in the last four of the ATP Tour finals.

By the end of an extraordinary match Wawrinka was left “destroyed” after letting slip four match points, Federer had hurt his back, and they had endured an ugly spat over some inappropriate words from Federer’s watching wife Mirka. The two have since buried the hatchet over the Mirka incident, but Federer admits that he took an element of uncertainty into his opening rubber last night against Gael Monfils due to his back injury. Wawrinka, however, said that he is full of confidence despite his loss on the London hardcourt.

“For sure, it was tough to lose against Roger with four match points. But I took a lot of positive from that week. I’m feeling great from London, a lot of confidence from there. Playing really good tennis,” he said.

In contrast the French – seeking a 10th all-time Davis Cup win and a first since 2001 – prepared on clay well out of the spotlight down in Bordeaux. None of their players qualified for the Tour finals in London. The two other members of the French team, Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet, play in today’s doubles against the Swiss pairing of Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer.

 

Tammy conquers Luksika 

 

Tamarine Tanasugarn won an all-Thai quarter-final against Luksika Kumkhum in the US$75,000 Dunlop Srixon World Challenge at the Toyota City Gymnasium in Japan yesterday.

Tammy shrugged off a back injury and relied on her experience to outlast her young compatriot 6-4 3-6 6-4 and book a semi-final spot against Japan’s Shuko Aoyama, who beat countrywoman Misaki Doi 6-4 6-3.

“I had a crucial break for 5-4 and served for the first set. Then she raised the level of her serves in the second set and came up with some well-placed shots to win the second. In the final set she had a problem with her shoulder and couldn’t serve well, so I took that chance to break her in the final game,” said Tammy. My back feels better now,” the 37-year-old said.

In other matches, Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm advanced with a 6-4 6-3 win over compatriot Mayo Hibi, and An-Sophie Mestach of Belgium beat Japan’s Miharu Imanishi 6-2 6-2.