The 2014 Davis Cup provided Roger and his Swiss team with the opportunity to do something that the nation had never before achieved. Switzerland had never won male tennis’ premier national competition and with Roger and newly crowned Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka as their two leading lights, there was belief around the country that this campaign would be different.
Switzerland began the Davis Cup with a routine win over Serbia, who were without their talisman Novak Djokovic. Another victory against Kazakhstan was to follow before the tricky prospect of a semi-final against Italy loomed large. Roger was tasked with giving his team a solid platform and would provide it, defeating Simone Bolelli before Wawrinka beat Fabio Fognini in straight sets. After a doubles defeat, the Swiss team required one point from the remaining two matches to reach the final and this was duly delivered by Roger, who was lifted onto his teammates’ shoulders following his victory against Fognini in Geneva.
Switzerland were due to play France in a mouth-watering contest in Lille, however preparations for the final were hampered by a back injury that Roger suffered just a week before the tie. In the final, Wawrinka put the Swiss team 1-0 up with a victory against Tsonga before Roger, struggling with his injury, lost to Monfils and the tie was all square. A difficult few hours followed for Swiss supporters, however the following day Roger was able to take to the court alongside Wawrinka and appeared somewhat healed as the duo won their doubles match to take a lead into the final day.
On the final morning it was the turn of the French camp to suffer a blow as Tsonga was forced to retire with an injured arm and it would be Richard Gasquet who took his place. Federer knew that a victory against Gasquet would bring a maiden Davis Cup victory and was inspired, losing just eight games in the match and winning in straight sets. A tearful celebration followed. Roger won six out of seven singles matches during the course of the tournament and remains the most successful Swiss player in Davis Cup history.