After the U.S. Open, the last notable event that takes place on the ATP calendar is the Davis Cup. It looks like the Swiss team just lucked out, because now Roger Federer is considering joining them in September.
Federer was missing due to a back injury when Switzerland lost 4-1 to the United States in the first round of the World Group in March at Birmingham, Alabama.
The Swiss face Italy in a playoff at Genoa on Sept. 18-20 to stay in the elite 16-team group with a chance to win the 2010 title.
Federer will be 29 when next year’s final is played, with few chances left to fulfill his ambition of winning a first Davis Cup title for Switzerland.
Luethi, who is also part of Federer’s coaching team, said the top-ranked player told him in May and again at Wimbledon that he intended to play in Italy.
It’s been a crazy year for Federer. First, he ties Pete Sampras in career Grand Slams at the French Open, only to break that very record the next month at Wimbledon. Then he wife gives birth to twin girls.
Though many tennis players don’t count a win at the Davis Cup as essential, it’s possibly the only accomplishment Federer doesn’t have in his storied career. Count on Fed and teammate Stanislas Wawrinka making a case for Switzerland against Russia and Spain down the stretch.
