Federer finishes off plucky Dutch in quick time

Against all the odds we had a proper Davis Cup tie here. By rights the under-strength Dutch team should have been heading home on Saturday evening, mentally if not physically, but instead they tenaciously hung around to bring the best out of the reigning Davis Cup champion and Roger Federer in particular.

Thiemo de Bakker, the Dutch No. 1, had taken Stan Wawrinka, the world No. 4, close to defeat in the opening rubber and it set the tone for a never-say-die performance from the visiting team. And then the Dutch effort hit the buffers, or, to be more precise, a Roger Federer in the sort of imperious form that had taken him to the final of the recent US Open.

Whether it was Federer’s last Davis Cup tie remains to be seen, but clearly his involvement next year is doubtful, which is a pity because a fully committed Swiss team should be too good for anyone.

“I don't know yet if I play Davis Cup next year, depends also on the draw. My idea was never to win it twice, the idea was always to win it once and we did that in front of a record crowd, which was a great moment for us all,” Federer told DavisCup.com.

“I see this tie in isolation. Next year is an Olympic year. The summer will be very long and packed with highlights. It’s all a question of priorities. I can’t play everything and of course if I do play Davis Cup other things have to drop out.”

Jesse Huta Galung, the Dutch No. 2, had said on Friday that playing Federer was like playing a ghost and the world No. 2 has certainly proved an elusive figure for de Bakker on the few occasions they have met these past three years. Once again he failed to win a set against him as Federer, seemingly in second gear throughout, took the rubber and this World Group play-off with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Federer improved to 40-8 lifetime in singles rubbers for Switzerland.

Date: 20th September 2015, Source: Davis Cup and ATP

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