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Greensboro native John Isner has notched the biggest single victory of his career so far, defeating Roger Federer in four sets at a Davis Cup tennis match today in Fribourg, Switzerland.

The big-serving Isner beat Federer 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 to give the United States a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Isner is No. 17 in the ATP world rankings, and this is his first victory over any of the current top four players in the world. Federer, the former world No. 1, is ranked third.

Isner, 26, backed up his big serve with booming ground strokes, challenging the 30-year-old Swiss star in long rallies on the indoor clay court.

A three-time winner on the ATP tour, Isner is now 1-11 in his six year career against the current top four. He's 0-2 vs. No. 1 Novak Djokovic, 0-3 vs. No. 2 Rafael Nadal, 1-2 vs. Federer and 0-2 vs. No. 4 Andy Murray.

Federer, 30, has won 70 career titles -- fourth-best in the Open Era.

In terms of name-recognition, Isner's biggest wins before today were a pair of singles victories over No. 19 Andy Roddick -- including one in the semifinals of last summer's Winston-Salem Open. Isner went on to win that tournament.

Isner starred at Page and was an All-America college player at Georgia before turning pro six years ago.