Roger Federer looks to keep Switzerland's slim Davis Cup hopes alive when he plays Bernard Tomic in the first of the reverse singles rubbers on Sunday.
Australia struck a hammer blow to Switzerland's chances of regaining a place in the World Group after winning Saturday's doubles rubber to take a 2-1 lead in this playoff tie.
Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione were up against the Olympic champions in Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka and for a set they were completely outplayed but a poor call midway through the second set turned the match and a pumped up Hewitt went on produce some inspirational tennis in their 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(5) win.
It leaves Federer needing to beat Tomic to take the match into a decisive rubber. Obviously the six-time Wimbledon champion will be huge favourite on the grass courts. He hasn't lost a singles rubber since 2003 and although Tomic impressed during Friday's win over Wawrinka, he has never beaten anyone of Federer's calibre.
However it will be fascinating to see how his game matches up against the Swiss star particularly after his efforts against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon which saw him seriously test the eventual champion in the quarters and he will be jumping at the chance to try and put the tie to bed.
“I think our biggest thing we’ve got to do, myself and Rochey (Tomic's coach Tony Roche) is calm him down to not lose too much nervous energy (before the match),” Aussie captain Pat Rafter said.
However Federer was remaining realistic looking ahead to his country's final day prospects. "Chances to win now are extremely slim,” he noted. “Gonna be tough day tomorrow. We’ll believe, but it’s tough.”
