Federer and the Davis Cup

It's perhaps not surprising that Federer hasn't typically taken the davis cup too seriously. In pursuit of the bigger prizes Federer often skips the first tie of the year to rest and comes in for the second playoff to try and keep Switzerland in the world group.
Saying that though I would be surprised if Fed didn't want to lift it at least once before he hangs the raquet up.
So the point of the topic is, do you think that Federer will make a big push to win the davis cup as his final(ish) years roll on by? If so will it be this year? Or later?
Adding to that do you think the Swiss team is strong enough to do it? Fedrinka's not a bad team but i'd wager Spain, France, Serbia, Czechs would still be a harder team to beat...

All opinions welcome obviously but be sensible... nothing out of order, no bullying each other... you all know the drill
Cheers

Now go

No, it's not important to him and the last thing he's going to do now is start adding to his schedule. In addition he has only a slim chance of winning it with Stan, although I must admit Berdych & Stepanek should have even less chance and did it.

DC is irrelevant to a players place in the game. Federer has always shown he shares that opinion. I think the Swiss are a bit more grown up about nationalistic fervour than the people in new, war-torn countries like Serbia, or ones with a chip on their shoulder, like Spain.

Good question, well put. In a word my answer is "no".

He's thrown the kitchen sink at the Olympics and won two medals for Switzerland, one of them a gold with Wawrinka.

The Swiss DC team does not have sufficient strength in depth to win the DC and whilst I'm sure he'd love to win it, I don't believe it's a priority for him - nor does Wawrinka seem to think so, and he should know.

As a Brit I'd far rather see our men winning slams than the DC, I can't pretend to have any knowledge, but I suspect that Swiss tennis fans see things similarly.

He probably saw his best chance of holding the DC aloft when he went down in 5 to Hewitt all those years ago.

Federer himself cannot win the Davis Cup. For them to do that would require not only Federer playing 2 singles, but also the doubles. Likelihood Wawrinka would need to do the same. If you look at the success of USA teams and Spain for example, they have enough depth in the team with doubles specialists. Some could argue the recent Czech success, but in the grand scheme of things did they have legitimate Singles Slam chances?

You have to win 3/5 matches.

With Roger, 2 wins would pretty much be guaranteed (apart from Spain or Serbia) if Roger put his mind to it.

Wawrinka, is in the top 15 in the world, surely he can win atleast one fixture?

It's almost impossible to win the Davis Cup with a two man team. Obviously it can be done, but the mre likely outcome (especially with Wawrinka) would be that of Henman/Rusedski i.e. not even reaching the semis, at the expense of time-off/proper scheduling for the rest of the season and, dare I say it, the more important Slams.

Julius, which team apart from Spain and Serbia do you think could challenge Switzerland at their best.

France? Argentina?

I'd fancy the czechs too, Berdych playing for his country would be a handful for Fed, i'd even fancy Stepanek on Wawrinka right now, I think the czechs are a better doubles team at the mo too

All those countries. GB could probably give them a run for their money, if Murray won his 2 singles.

I think they could beat the Czechs 3-2.

Fed x2
Wawrinka x1

JuliusHMarx wrote:All those countries. GB could probably give them a run for their money, if Murray won his 2 singles.

GB don't have a second player like Wawrinka.

It Must Be Love wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:All those countries. GB could probably give them a run for their money, if Murray won his 2 singles.

GB don't have a second player like Wawrinka.

Your fogetting doubles. Skupski and Marray could easily dispatch Federer and Wawrinka in the doubles format.

It would be great fun to watch Nadal and Federer play in a Davis Cup final. That would certainly motivate them both. But maybe that will remain a dream...

I'd actually fancy the czechs 3-2 over the swiss, berdy x1 stepanek x1 and the doubles. Myabe im underselling the Swiss, but the eastern European tend to play above themselves playing for their country

I will agree with IMBL and go against the majority.

The Davis Cup is one of the few tournaments that have gone on since the beginning along with the US Open and Wimbledon and a few others. There's a rich legacy there. It's worth noting that if it becomes more popular in the future again that it will become popular in GOAT debates than it is now because it goes back so far. Not having it is a legacy hurting fact it you want to be a GOAT contender.

I think top players should play more for their country and fans and less for themselves (not a criticism of Federer, could probably say the same of others). Although all the compulsory masters don't help, and the travel, but I think they should make the effort. The rule should allow the early rounds to be 3 setters, and allow the team to choose their players for the 5th rubber rather than a draw, meaning Federer would often be playing a dead rubber he could switch with a youngster.

Switzerland have as good a chance as most (apart from Spain) and could win any match apart from Spain away with a fully fit Nadal. I think he should play the first match to try and win the thing, not just the relegation play off.

IMBL is right, Federer needs to back himself to win 2 from 2 and try and hope the rest of his team can do 1 from 3.

Hewitt was mentioned here. When Hewitt beat Federer and won the tournament, he said it was a much better feeling than winning a slam.

HB

Funny how people think DC is important but there's hardly any interest on these boards during a tie or even final, compared to the mayhem of a Slam.

It's a sideline.

Henman Bill wrote:I will agree with IMBL and go against the majority.

The Davis Cup is one of the few tournaments that have gone on since the beginning along with the US Open and Wimbledon and a few others. There's a rich legacy there. It's worth noting that if it becomes more popular in the future again that it will become popular in GOAT debates than it is now because it goes back so far. Not having it is a legacy hurting fact it you want to be a GOAT contender.

I think top players should play more for their country and fans and less for themselves (not a criticism of Federer, could probably say the same of others). Although all the compulsory masters don't help, and the travel, but I think they should make the effort. The rule should allow the early rounds to be 3 setters, and allow the team to choose their players for the 5th rubber rather than a draw, meaning Federer would often be playing a dead rubber he could switch with a youngster.

Switzerland have as good a chance as most (apart from Spain) and could win any match apart from Spain away with a fully fit Nadal. I think he should play the first match to try and win the thing, not just the relegation play off.

IMBL is right, Federer needs to back himself to win 2 from 2 and try and hope the rest of his team can do 1 from 3.

Hewitt was mentioned here. When Hewitt beat Federer and won the tournament, he said it was a much better feeling than winning a slam.

So Federer at 31 should push himself through the barriers and put himself out for the Davis Cup, despite consistent Slam results? As many have eluded to that the depth in the team needs to be there for him to get the best out of him.

I very much doubt Nadal would play DC if Spain had the depth that Switzerland and push himself to playing 3 rubbers over 3 days. Especially on HC

The DC should not place emphasis on '1 star player' performing and being the backbone of the team.