Roger Federer Clarifies Comments on Stan Wawrinka Amid Davis Cup Dispute
Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka's Davis Cup Dispute
Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, the two top Swiss tennis players with a combined 23 Grand Slam singles titles, were involved in a controversy during the Davis Cup. Although they had success as teammates, including winning doubles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and securing Switzerland’s first Davis Cup title in 2014, tensions rose after their loss in 2012.
The 2012 Davis Cup Setback
Switzerland faced a tough challenge in the 2012 Davis Cup first round against the 32-time champions, the USA. The tie was held in Fribourg, giving the Swiss home advantage, but the Americans dominated, winning 5-0. Wawrinka lost in five sets to Mardy Fish, Federer fell to John Isner in four, and together they lost their doubles match to Fish and Mike Bryan.
After the doubles defeat sealed the U.S. victory, Federer was reported saying, "I played well enough in doubles, but Stanislas not so much," adding that Wawrinka didn’t have his best singles match. These remarks suggested Federer blamed Wawrinka for the loss.
Federer’s Clarification of His Comments
Federer later clarified at the Rotterdam tournament that his words were mistranslated. He said, "It was taken completely the wrong way, me blaming Stan. I would never do that. It was just an unfortunate weekend." He emphasized that multiple factors led to their defeat and praised the American team’s performance. Federer also mentioned conversations with captain Severin Luthi and Wawrinka to ensure no misunderstandings arose between them. He blamed the media for creating conflict from nothing.
Rebuilding and Triumph in 2014
Despite the earlier misunderstanding, the pair came together successfully two years later in 2014, leading Switzerland to a historic Davis Cup win over France in Lille. Federer secured the final match against Richard Gasquet and acknowledged Wawrinka’s vital role, stating, "It’s Stan who put us in this great position for Sunday." He highlighted the team's strong bond, having many members playing together for nearly a decade.
Wawrinka returned the praise, expressing admiration for Federer’s play, "You saw how well Roger was playing, how he just killed Richard today. It was an amazing feeling." He shared that he stayed ready for the last match and enjoyed the experience with the team.
Switzerland's Davis Cup Record in 2014
- First Round: Switzerland beat Serbia, 3-2
- Quarter-final: Switzerland beat Serbia, 3-2
- Semi-final: Switzerland beat Italy, 3-2
- Final: Switzerland beat France, 3-1
Since Then
Switzerland has not come close to repeating their Davis Cup success since 2014, failing to reach any quarter-finals in the following 12 years.
