FRIBOURG, Switzerland — Given a supremely tough draw in the 2012 Davis Cup, the United States is off to an exhilarating start.
It swept Roger Federer and Switzerland in the first round, with Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan winning the doubles match on clay, a surface selected by Federer to exploit what was perceived as an American weakness.
But Fish and Bryan, paired for the first time in more than three years, were clearly up for this challenge Saturday before a Swiss crowd that at times turned angry. They defeated Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, the reigning Olympic champions, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
“This is probably going down as one of the most memorable (wins),” said Bryan, who played on the 2007 winning team.
The doubles victory gave the Americans a 3-0 win in the best-of-five, first-round series. Fish and Bryan built on the momentum from Friday’s riveting singles matches when John Isner stunned Federer in four sets and Fish outlasted Wawrinka in five.
“This was a big step forward for our guys to come in here and play against a team of this caliber,” U.S. captain Jim Courier said. “Our attitude remained strong all the while and we were ready for whatever.”
