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American Isner shocks Federer in Davis Cup
World number three Roger Federer slumped to a shock 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 defeat to John Isner on Friday as the United States opened up a 2-0 Davis Cup World Group lead over Switzerland.
Federer, playing a first round tie for the first time in eight years, saw his 15-match winning streak in the competition ended by the giant Isner on the indoor clay courts at Fribourg.
Isner secured victory with three return winners as the 32-time Davis Cup champions moved closer to a quarter-final spot.
"The way I played today is the way I need to play in all my matches," said Isner, who paid tribute to captain Jim Courier.
"I owe it to Jim Courier -- he was on at me to hit all my shots. It's the win of my life."
Courier, bidding to lead the United States to a first Davis Cup title since 2007, said Isner got his tactics just right against the 16-time Grand Slam title winner.
"The mission was to go out there and not allow an artist a canvas to work with," he said.
Earlier, Mardy Fish had defeated Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 9-7 in the opening rubber.
It was the fifth time in his last six Davis Cup appearances that American number one Fish, who spent four and a half hours on court, had played five sets.
"There's something special about the Davis Cup. You just never give up," said Fish.
"I feel pretty tired. But I lost a couple of long ones in Austin last year (against Spain), and that feels so bad I just needed to win this one."
Former US number one Andy Roddick took to Twitter to congratulate his teammates.
"Unreal effort by Davis cup team today over in Switzerland!!! I was pumped watching. Go USA!!!," he wrote.
Federer and Wawrinka are due to face Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison in Saturday's doubles.
The eventual winners of the tie will face either France or Canada in April for a place in the semi-finals.
