BASEL, (Reuters) – Roger Federer has cleared the air with the Swiss tennis federation over his last-minute decision to pull out of the Davis Cup tie in Kazakhstan in September, the 16-times grand slam champion said yesterday.
Federer received rare criticism in his homeland when he withdrew two days before the tie. Switzerland went on to lose 5-0 and were condemned to the Europe/Africa group, effectively the competition’s second division.
“Criticism is okay but I think most of the people actually understood my decision,” Federer told Reuters after overcoming Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Swiss Indoors yesterday when the Ukrainian retired hurt.
“I don’t read that much press but I always try to be very transparent with my thoughts.
“Kazakhstan was unfortunately not one I could do at the very end, I tried to keep it open as long as possible, but I always think of the long term.
“I had a good conversation with the president of Swiss Tennis and all is under control.”
Federer has played 37 Davis Cup rubbers, although from 2005 to last year he only represented his country in the playoff round which decides whether they stay in the World Group.
KAZAKHSTAN TRIP
The Kazakhstan tie came shortly after the U.S. Open, where Federer lost to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, but Swiss media said he should not have waited until the last minute before deciding.