It’s the beginning of the 2014 Fed Cup this weekend with the World Group first round and the US begins by hosting the current World #1 Italy in Cleveland. The Fed Cup is a little different than the Davis Cup that the men participated in last weekend in that the World Group in the Fed Cup is split into two halves… The World Group (the top eight teams) and World Group II (the next eight teams).
This does mean that the process to fall out of the world groups is a bit harder. For the US it would require losing this weekend, losing a playoff in April to fall into the world group II, losing in the first round of World Group II next year, and losing another playoff after that to fall into the Americas Zone. It’s a hard scenario to see unfolding anytime soon, but it also puts some pressure on teams as if you fall out of the top eight you can’t win the Fed Cup the next year. No chance of seeing a team get hot (Great Britain in the Davis Cup?) and come streaking to a title after being out of the top 16 the year before.
For the US the task this weekend is not quite what it appears to be on paper. Yes this is a matchup of the US and Italy who is #1 in the Fed Cup standings right now. But the top players for both teams will not be a part of the tie and so a lot of the luster is gone. World #1 Serena Williams is not playing due to her back injury suffered in the Australian Open. Italy is missing #7 Sara Errani and #14 Roberta Vinci due to concerns about the busy schedule right now. It’s understandable, one of the biggest 10 non-grand slam events on the WTA starts Monday in Qatar. American Sloane Stephens (18th in the world) is still recovering from the wrist injury she suffered a month ago. #22 in the world, Italian Flavia Pennetta also decided not to participate for the travel concerns. And finally American Jamie Hampton (#31) had hip surgery after an injury that forced her to withdraw from the Australian Open before it began.
Photo Credit: Doha Stadium Plus via Compfight cc
So we have none of the top three players for either country. That actually makes 18-year-old Madison Keys the highest ranked player for either country. She’s currently 37th in the world. The other Americans are Allison Riske (#46), Lauren Davis (#59) and Christina McHale (#62). That’s not so bad when you look at the Italian backups: Karin Knapp (#40), Camila Giorgi (#84), Nastassja Burnett (#161), and Alice Matteucci (#704).
I think the fact that the Fed Cup is being held immediately in advance of a WTA Premier 5 tournament is ridiculous. If you want to make this event mean something, schedule it at better times when the players won’t be so concerned with the following week’s tournament. However this has created a great opportunity for the US and for fans of the young US women’s talent (all four players are 23 or younger) this will be an exciting opportunity to see them play in the Fed Cup.
As of now the schedule… all of this is going to be carried live by Tennis Channel.
Saturday at 1 PM ET.
Rubber 1 – Christina McHale vs. Karin Knapp – McHale leads 1-0 all-time
Rubber 2 – Madison Keys vs. Camila Giorgi – Keys leads 1-0 all-time
Sunday at 12 PM ET.
Rubber 3 – (Likely) – Madison Keys vs. Karin Knapp – Have never played
Rubber 4 – (Likely) – Christina McHale vs. Camila Giorgi – McHale leads 1-0 all-time
Rubber 5 – (Likely) – Allison Riske/Lauren Davis vs. Nastassja Burnett/Alice Matteucci – These pairs have never played together or against any of their opponents.
I put likely on those matchups because the captains (Mary Jo Fernandez for the US) can make changes for that second day still… In fact the doubles players could be changed after the 4th rubber if they wanted.
I think the US will be a favorite with the slightly higher ranked players and the home-court advantage in Cleveland. Hopefully the young Americans (only McHale has played Fed Cup before) can shake off any nerves about playing for the US for the first time.
