LILLE: Switzerland\'s Roger Federer (L) celebrates with teammate Stanislas Wawrinka after winning the doubles tennis match of the Davis Cup final at the Stade Pierre Mauroy here Saturday. — AFP Photo LILLE, Nov 23 (AFP): Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka gave Switzerland a 2-1 lead over France in the Davis Cup final with a commanding doubles win over Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet in Lille Saturday.
The world number two and four were in charge from the start and bossed the rubber from the net and the baseline to win 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
The win means that the Swiss are just one victory away from capturing the first Davis Cup title in their history.
That could come Sunday when the reverse singles are held, with Wawrinka and Federer highly likely to play again against Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
"Clearly it's a big relief. The medical staff, it's a big thanks to them. Thanks for getting me back onto the court. Stan has been unbelievably supportive," said Federer, who had been struggling with a back injury in the days prior to Lille.
"I am really happy with the way we were playing today. We were really aggressive, we knew what we had to do. I think we did a good job," said Wawrinka.
Watched by another huge crowd of around 27,000 in the roofed over Lille football stadium, including French President Francois Hollande, the Swiss pair knuckled down quickly to their task, pocketing the first break of the match in the sixth game on the Benneteau serve.
That was enough to edge them a set up, but, after a quick visit to the locker room to regroup, the French pair came back out re-energised.
They briefly looked the likelier to move back into contention, but failed to convert any of five break points that came their way in the second, fourth and eighth games.
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