We knew that inexperience would be an issue for the US against Italy but the hope was that the higher ranked American players would at least be able to hold their own on home soil. Well the inexperience won out as the Americans struggled to a 3-1 home loss to World #1 Italy.

Italy’s Karin Knapp dispatched Christina McHale 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the first rubber on Saturday. That wasn’t a huge surprise as Knapp is the higher ranked player. What was a surprise was how soundly Madison Keys was beaten by Camila Giorgi: 6-2, 6-1. That resounding thumping meant the US had to win all three rubbers on Sunday. Keys has struggled at times in big moments, we saw it a few times at the Australian Open, and the 18-year old may have just been in over her head a bit in this one. Plenty of time for her to mature and become a major part of the US team.

Thanks for all the support! Not how we wanted it to go but we fought and we’ll be back 🙂 #FedCup #lovemyteam

— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) February 9, 2014

Captain Mary Jo Fernandez elected to change #1 singles players for Sunday sending out Allison Riske in place of Keys. It seems like the obvious move to make since Keys had played so poorly, but one wonders if Keys wouldn’t have come out with something to prove in this one. Riske did give Knapp a good battle but fell 6-3, 7-5 and the US was beaten in the tie. The second singles match of the day would have been McHale vs. Giorgi but that was skipped. The doubles match between Lauren Davis/Madison Keys and Nastassja Burnett/Alice Matteucci was held even though it was a dead rubber. Davis/Keys took that one 6-2, 6-3.

The US will now play a World Group Playoff match on April 19th and 20th. The US will be the seeded team and will face off with either Argentina, Canada, Poland, or France. Not sure when the draw for the opponent will be held but when I hear about one you’ll see some news on it here.