Saturday 22 November 2014 19:38, UK
Switzerland moved into a 2-1 lead over France in the Davis Cup final thanks to a straight-sets doubles win for Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
The world No 2 and No 4 beat Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet 6-3 7-5 6-4 in front of 27,000 spectators in Lille.
Federer and Wawrinka won Olympic doubles gold in Beijing for Switzerland in 2008, but they had lost the last four Davis Cup doubles they had played together.
The Swiss pair did not concede a single break and dominated the key points.
Federer's prediction that he would play better than he had in Friday's defeat to Gael Monfils proved correct, as he made light of his recent back trouble and served and moved far better.
"Stan has been unbelievably supportive, the coaching staff did a really good job," said Federer, who injured his back last week at the ATP Finals. "Now I'm going to rest and recover."
Federer and Wawrinka converted their early dominance to break for a 4-2 lead in the first set when Wawrinka unleashed a powerful forehand that Gasquet could hardly touch.
They sealed the set in just 28 minutes but the former Olympic champions had to save a total of five break points in the second.
Benetteau saved two break points with consecutive winners in the ninth game but Gasquet was let down by his serve two games later, as Wawrinka fired a forehand winner down the line on the first break point.
The French fended off four break points early in the third set but another stunning forehand passing shot from Wawrinka gave the Swiss the decisive break in the fifth game.
"We came on the court to take that point, we were aggressive, we knew what we had to do, and we did a good job," said Wawrinka. "We know each other so well."
The Swiss now need just one point from Sunday's reverse singles to win the Davis Cup for the first time, with Federer slated to face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Wawrinka up against Gael Monfils in a potentially decisive fifth rubber.
