FRIBOURG, Switzerland – The United States took a 2-0 lead over Switzerland on Friday in its 2012 Davis Cup World Group first round match at the Forum Fribourg in Fribourg, Switzerland. John Isner stunned Roger Federer in four sets to earn his first win in a live Davis Cup singles match after Mardy Fish opened the tie with a 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 9-7 victory over Stan Wawrinka.
Federer on Isner: I thought he played great. He played it tough and served great when he had to. I just missed a couple more opportunities than he did and that’s what cost me the match.
It’s been a difficult day for us. We still have a chance to go through. I’m going to enjoy the challenge.
Isner on the win: It feels good. Certainly it’s a huge win for me. It’s the biggest win of my career thus far. So very proud of it.
We’re up 2-0, which is a great start. That was our goal coming into today, and we accomplished it. Mardy put forth a great effort in the first match. Obviously that was so gutsy. What it did, it took a lot of pressure off of me, I felt. Mardy getting that win was obviously huge, and it was huge for me as well.
I was up a break, so I had absolutely nothing to lose. Just went out and went for my shots, and they found the court. That’s really the blueprint for how I need to play and how I need to return for all my matches, no matter who I’m playing.
Courier on coaching two very emotional matches: I guess that’s hiding what’s going on inside. It’s like a washing machine when you’re out there. You’re riding the ups and the downs with our players.
But I have two different players out there emotionally. John needs more encouragement, likes more encouragement. Mardy is a little bit more kind of self‑sufficient at the moment.
It’s my goal to get John to be very self‑sufficient out there, as well. He doesn’t need me to remind him of this stuff. He’s going to figure out very quickly that this is a great way for him to play.
But it’s fun. It’s fun to be out there and try to help these guys and also know when to shut the fuck up and stay out of the way. That’s the biggest trick. Still learning that one.
Courier on Fish: Mardy played on guts out there. He and Stan were both struggling. It wasn’t pretty tennis. It’s all about being better than the other guy. Mardy has lost a few tight matches like that. He stepped up today and won a tight match. That’s huge for him and that’s huge for us as a team.
Fish on one of his biggest comebacks: It’s certainly up there. There’s no doubt about it. I think, you know, (Davis Cup at) Colombia jumps out me; obviously the Olympics jump out at me. As far as the Davis Cup and the team aspect of it, yeah, this is certainly right up there with them.
Isner on court conditions : (The balls were) Not necessarily flying, but they were pretty quick and the ball stayed firm. The balls don’t fluff up too much here. So even in the eighth, ninth game of a new set of balls, they’re still, in my opinion, pretty quick. That played to my advantage. I think it plays to our team’s advantage a little bit there.
Yeah, I was happy with the conditions out there. I don’t mind playing on clay. It gives me more time, which sometimes is what I need. Clay isn’t really such a bad surface for me.
Junior Williams is a long-time journalist and tennis fan. At a moment’s notice he can give you a list of all the Davis Cup match-ups that would give the US home ties. He is in Fribourg, Switzerland covering the Davis Cup first round World Group tie between the US and Switzerland for Tennis Panorama News.