Near-record attendance expected for Davis Cup final featuring Roger Federer

Roger Federer has only the Davis Cup title missing from his resume. Martial Trezzini / AP Photo

PARIS // Lille will host the November 21-23 Davis Cup final between France and Switzerland with a near-record crowd of around 27,000 expected to see Roger Federer compete in his first championship match.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that the French Tennis Federation (FFT) had nominated the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, the home of French Ligue 1 football club Lille.

The tie will be played indoors under a retractable roof with the surface to be confirmed on September 22.

Lille stadium has a capacity of over 50,000, but for the final a court will be set up at one end to make use of the permanent seating in conjunction with temporary stands.

The expected capacity will be a minimum of 27,000 spectators.

The highest capacity for a Davis Cup final was in 2004, when 27,200 spectators watched Spain defeat the United States at the Olympic Stadium in Seville.

“Lille will be a spectacular setting for one of the most eagerly anticipated Davis Cup Finals in years,” ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti said.

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