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Historic win

November 23, 2014

A straight-sets win by Roger Federer over France's Richard Gasquet has given Switzerland its first-ever David Cup title. It was the only major silverware still missing from the 17-time Grand Slam winner's resumé.

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Roger Federer
Image: Reuters/Charles Platiau

Switzerland came into Sunday's singles matches with a 2-1 lead and needing only a single point to clinch the top national prize in men's tennis. Gasquet was a late replacement for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and his record against hardly inspired confidence, having lost 13 of 15 matches against Federer.

Federer had to withdraw from the ATP Finals last week with a back injury, and he had lost to Gael Monfils in his first singles match on Friday. But if Gasquet thought he might catch Federer on an off day he was mistaken.

Federer dominated Gasquet, sealing a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win on the sand in Lille in just over one hour and fifty minutes. That gave Switzerland an insurmountable lead and obviated the necessity of the second singles match, which would have been between Monfils and Federer's teammate Stan Wawrinka.

"This is a great historic moment for our country," a tearful Federer said after his match. "It's an enormous pleasure for me. I've waited 15 years for this."

Federer has become the fourth player after Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi and Rod Laver to win all the Grand Slam events and the Davis Cup. France had been looking for a 10th Davis Cup title.

rd / (AP, AFP)