Struggling Roger Federer loses as France level final

ByEurosport

Updated 21/11/2014 at 18:49 GMT

Gael Monfils coasted to a straight sets win over Roger Federer as France levelled the Davis Cup final against Switzerland at 1-1 ion Lille.

Gaël Monfils

Image credit: Imago

Switzerland had led France 1-0 after Stanislas Wawrinka completed a 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-2 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening singles match, but Monfils upset the odds with a 6-1 6-4 6-3 win.

2009 French Open champion Federer toiled on clay, and was clearly still suffering from the effects of the back problems which forced him to withdraw from the ATP World Tour final against Novak Djokovic on London last Sunday.

It was a moment of sweet revenge for Monfils, who saw Federer retrieve two match points to oust him from the US Open quarter-finals in five sets just over two months ago.

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"I had my game plan against him. I was very close to beating him at the US Open, but I had to close it out today," said Monfils. "I had to focus on my game plan, and stay focused (rather than think about Federer's injury problems.

"The atmosphere was just unbelievable in front of our fans."

Roger Federer loses to Gael Monfils

Image credit: AFP

World number four Wawrinka was more consistent than French number one Tsonga in front of a record 27,432 crowd at the Pierre Mauroy stadium.

France, who last triumphed in 2001, are looking to win the Davis Cup for the 10th time while Switzerland are seeking their maiden title.

Wawrinka's win had appeared to leave the Swiss in a strong position with 17-times Grand Slam winner Federer facing Monfils in Friday's second singles match, but he was never really in contention against Monfils, who thrilled the home fans with his flamboyant shot-making.

Monfils, who had never beaten Federer on clay in four previous encounters, won five games in a row as he whizzed through the first set.

Struggling with his serve, the Swiss was broken again in the third game of the second set and his French rival showed no sign of weakening, sending his opponent chasing balls left, right and centre.

It was not game over yet, though, as Federer beat Monfils in five sets at the US after dropping the first two.

But this time, Monfils maintained his grip to break for a 3-2 lead before finishing off the contest on Federer's serve with a stunning backhand winner down the line.

Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer will face Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet in Saturday's double match with the reverse singles taking place as play concludes on Sunday.

A record crowd of 27,432 people took their seats at the Pierre Mauroy stadium for the Davis Cup final on clay on Friday.

The French tennis federation (FFT) and the International tennis federation (ITF) said the previous record for a sanctioned tennis match had been set in Seville in 2004 for the Davis Cup final between Spain and the United States.

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka reacts during their Davis Cup final singles tennis match against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, near Lille, November 21, 2014 (Reuters)

Image credit: Reuters

The FFT said it expected the stadium to be at full capacity again for Saturday's doubles and Sunday's reverse singles.

The Pierre Mauroy stadium usually hosts Ligue 1 club Lille's games with a maximum capacity of just over 50,000 in football configuration.

The roof has been closed for the Davis Cup final.

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