LILLE, France // Five talking points ahead of the 2014 Davis Cup final between France and Switzerland in Lille, Friday to Sunday:
1) Can Roger Federer finally win the Davis Cup to go with the all-time best 17 grand slam titles he has to his name?
The only other top prize that has eluded him is singles gold at the Olympics. Great rival Rafael Nadal has won the lot -- all four grand slam titles, the Davis Cup and Olympic singles gold. Andre Agassi is the only other player to have achieved this feat, known as the “golden slam”.
2) Can France move up to third overall in the history of the Davis Cup?
They are currently level with Britain on nine wins with only the United States (32) and Australia (28) ahead of them. The last French win was in 2001 away to Australia.
3) Will the crowd record for the Davis Cup be smashed?
It currently stands at 27,200, the number of spectators who watched Spain play the United States in the 2004 final. This year’s final is being played in the Stade Pierre Mauroy, home to Lille football club, with half the ground partitioned off and roofed to accommodate the red claycourt. The crowd capacity is given as 27,000
4) Is all forgotten and forgiven between Swiss pair Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka?
Their friendship was sorely tested at the London ATP World Tour finals where Wawrinka complained about remarks coming from Federer’s box, apparently from wife Mirka, during their semi-final tussle. The pair had a long and tense set-to in the locker room after the match, won by Federer in three sets after saving four match points.
5) Who will get the second singles slot for France – Gael Monfils or Richard Gasquet?
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is assured of the lead singles position for the French, but there is little to choose between the other two. Monfils has the better singles record of 9-2 against 10-7, but he has been struggling with injuries all year.
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