Roger Federer News: Swiss Maestro Aiming To Give Switzerland First Davis Cup Title, Win Would Complete Tennis Career

Roger Federer is considered one of the greatest players of all time in the sport of tennis but there’s one major title missing in his illustrious career, the Davis Cup title. The Swiss Maestro, who is the World No. 2 and the rest of team Switzerland battle France in the final of the 2014 Davis Cup from Nov. 21 to 23, 2014.

Federer, along with another ATP elite player in Stanislas Wawrinka, who is ranked fourth in the world, will represent Switzerland with doubles partners Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer. For France, they will got to the Davis Cup final with Jo Tsonga (World No. 12), Gael Monfils (World No. 19) and doubles partners Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet.

“Anyone who has seen Roger Federer’s ecstatic reaction to winning a gold medal in the doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will know how much it means to him to succeed on behalf of his country,” Clive White, a writer for the Davis Cup official website, stated. “Yet, strangely, the 17-time Grand Slam champion has always been a little coy about acknowledging the fact that the one precious prize he hasn’t won is the most famous team prize of all - the Davis Cup.”

White then went on to list the achievements of Federer and indeed confirming that there’s one glaring missing piece to call it a complete tennis career. Federer has a career record of 995 wins against 226 with 82 titles including 17 scattered across the Grand Slam tournaments.

Federer, Wawrinka and the rest of the Swiss team enter the Davis Cup final as the favourites but the French team is always a dangerous opponent especially at home. Federer also recently pulled out of the ATP World Tour Finals championship round against Novak Djokovic because of back spasms.

"Things have been going well out there this morning. I was really happy with the way I felt," Federer said via a news conference after the Davis Cup draw on Thursday when asked of his status. “Only the match gives you the answer. I'm just pleased that I can play tomorrow, give it a go. Things have been going well.”

How Switzerland and France Qualified

In the Davis Cup World Group competition, France beat Australia, 5-0 in the first round; Germany, 3-2 in the quarterfinals; and then Czech Republic, 4-1 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Switzerland defeated Serbia, 3-2 in the first round; Kazakhstan, 3-2 in the quarterfinals and Italy, 3-2 in the semifinals to qualify for the championship round.

Czech Republic is the defending champion after beating Serbia, 3-2 in the 101st Davis Cup final in 2013. A total of 13 nations have been crowned Davis Cup champions in the past and curiously, Switzerland is not part of the list. With an all-time great like Roger Federer almost nearing the end of his prime, there is no better opportunity for the Swiss team to go all the way to the Davis Cup title and Federer is hoping that he can lead his team to the elusive crown.