REUTERS - John Isner spoiled a rare appearance by Roger Federer in the Davis Cup when he stunned the Swiss 4-6 6-3 7-6 6-2 to give United States a 2-0 lead in their World Group first-round tie in Fribourg on Friday.
Mardy Fish had earlier edged Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2 4-6 4-6 6-1 9-7 as Switzerland's bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004 got off to the worst possible start against the team that beat them in the 1992 final.
Big-serving Isner, ranked 17th in the world, lost his two previous meetings with former world number one Federer, both on hardcourts, but he silenced the home crowd with an efficient performance on the clay at the Forum Fribourg.
"The mission was to go out there and not allow an artist a canvas to work with," U.S. captain Jim Courier said of Isner's victory.
The winners of the tie will play away against Canada or France in the quarter-finals.
(Writing by Iain Rogers in Madrid, editing by Tony Jimenez; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
