Lille, France (CNN) -- Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka each faced questions heading into Switzerland's Davis Cup final in France.

For Federer, how would his tender back hold up?

For Wawrinka, would he recover after a tough -- and contentious -- loss to his higher-profile Swiss at the World Tour Finals in London last week?

We got our answers Friday at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on a record setting day in Lille -- but for once Federer wasn't the one rewriting the history books.

In front of the largest ever tennis crowd for a pro match -- at 27,432 it eclipsed the 27,200 that turned up to watch Spain beat the U.S. in a converted Seville bullring in the 2004 Davis Cup final -- Federer not only fell to Gael Monfils but couldn't put up much of a fight.

The 6-1 6-4 6-3 result against Monfils -- who piped down his histrionics -- marked his most lopsided defeat in 45 singles matches in the competition.

"You accept the fact that you're playing the way you feel," Federer told reporters. "But it wasn't all negative. I started to feel better as the match went on. That's very encouraging, I must say."

Also encouraging for Federer and the Swiss, Wawrinka thumped a listless Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-2 to begin the day.

Federer's performance, coupled with France's apparent advantage in Saturday's doubles, means it's the home team who'll be happier come the end of play.

One of the two major titles to elude Federer in his glittering career is a Davis Cup crown and how disappointed he must have been that on his debut in a Davis Cup final he was at less than full strength. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Where did the event take place?
2. which town?
3. what was the name of the stadium?
4. Were they playing football?
5. what were they playing?
6. What is Federer's first name?
7. had he won a Davis cup before?
8. did he win this time?
9. who beat him?
10. what year was this?
11. What was his concern going into the contest?
Answer: 1. France
2. Lille
3. converted Seville bullring
4. No
5. tennis
6. Roger
7. No
8. No
9. Gael Monfils
10. 2004
11. would his back hold up

LONDON--A morning's train ride away, across the Channel, English kids talk about Liverpool's soccer team in aprefix = st1 /Parispub. Some Parisians have even started to go to work in London. In the 19thcentury, Charles Dickens compared the two great rival cities, London and Paris, in "A Tale of Two Cities." These days, it might be A Tale of One City. Parisians are these days likely to smile in sympathy at a visitor's broken French and respond in polite English. As jobs grew lack at home over recent years, perhaps 250,000 Frenchmen moved across the Channel. With an undersea tunnel, they could travel between cities in three hours. The European Union freed them from immigration and customs. Paris, rich in beauty, is more attractive. But Londonfeels more full of life, and more fun until the pubs shut down. "For me, the difference is that Londonis real, alive," said Trevor Wheeler, a banker. Chantal Jaouen, a professional designer, agrees. "I am French, but I'll stay in London," she said. There is, of course, the other view. Julie Lenoux is a student who moved to Londontwo years ago. "I think people laugh more inParis," she said. In fact, London and Paris, with their obvious new similarities, are beyond the cold descriptions. As the European Union gradually loosened controls, Londoners _ intoParisto shop, eat and buy property. "Both cities have changed beyond recognition." Said Larry Collins, a writer and sometimes a Londoner. Like most people who know both well, he finds the two now fit together comfortably. "I first fell in love with Parisin the 1950s, and it is still a wonderful place," Collins said. "But if I had to choose, it would be London. Things are so much more ordered, and life is better." But certainly not cheaper. In fancy parts of London, rents can be twice those on Avenue Foch in Paris. Deciding between London and Parisrequires a lifestyle choice. Like Daphne Benoit, a French journalism student with perfect English, many young people are happy to be close enough so they don't have to choose. "I love Paris, my little neighborhood, the way I can walk around a centre, but life is so structured," she said. "InLondon, you can be who you want. No one cares." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. How long does it take to take the tunnel between Paris and London?
2. Does one need to go through customs when traveling between the two?
3. Does the tunnel go through the Alps?
4. What are bars known as in London?
5. Does Chantal Jaouen prefer London or Paris?
6. What is Trevor Wheeler's occupation?
7. Does everyone agree that London is preferred?
8. Who has a different opinion?
9. Is she a soccer player?
10. Why does she like Paris more?
11. Does she live in Paris?
12. Can you purchase property in Paris if you're not French?
13. What does Larry Collins do for a living?
14. Has he been going to Paris for a long time?
15. Does he believe Paris has more order than London?
16. If money were an issue, where would be better in your opinion?
17. Would Avenue Foch be half the cost of a fancy London neighborhood?
18. What languages can Daphne Benoit speak?
19. Which author wrote a novel with Paris and London as the backdrop?
20. What was the book?
Answer:
1. three hours
2. no
3. no
4. pubs
5. London
6. banker
7. no
8. Julie Lenoux
9. unknown
10. She said "I think people laugh more inParis,"
11. no
12. yes
13. He is a writer
14. yes
15. no
16. Paris
17. yes
18. French and English
19. Charles Dickens
20. "A Tale of Two Cities."