Roger Federer sealed Switzerland’s place in the Davis Cup semi-finals when he completed a comeback win for the hosts over Kazakhstan on Sunday but Britain’s last-four hopes were trampled into Italian clay in Naples.
France are also in the last four despite looking dead and buried on Friday when they lost the opening two singles matches against a weakened Germany line-up.
Wins for Jo Wilfried-Tsonga and Gael Monfils earned France a 3-2 victory in Nancy to set up a semi-final against holders Czech Republic who breezed past Japan in Tokyo 5-0.
When you need a player to win a decisive fifth rubber in a gripping Davis Cup tie, having one with 17 grand slam titles to his name would be a dream scenario for any team captain.
