U.S. "C"-Squad Begin Uphill Battle in Fed Cup Final

Posted on November 23, 2003

The U.S. "C"-squad of Meghann Shaughnessy and Lisa Raymond, and Raymond/Martina Navratilova in doubles if the tie gets that far, have their hands full today in the Fed Cup final against France.

Top 10 resident Amelie Mauresmo and former slam winner Mary Pierce are shooting for France's second-ever Fed Cup title, while the U.S. is trying to make it number 18. The U.S. lead the head-to-head 10-0 against France, but are longshots without the firepower of the Williams sisters, Lindsay Davenport or Jennifer Capriati.

"On paper we're favorites," said French captain Guy Forget, "but then again so were the Russians, but we proved them wrong. I think every match is going to be difficult but if they can play as well as they did in the previous matches, I think they should have a chance. But it will be hard."

In the first match Saturday, Raymond takes on world No. 4 Amelie Mauresmo, with the Frenchwoman leading the career head-to-head 4-0. The second singles will be Meghann Shaughnessy versus Mary Pierce in their first career meeting, which could be an advantage for the American.

"I think they (France) are overwhelmingly favorites," said U.S. captain Billie Jean King. "But it could be very interesting because of the styles of play...Lisa being an all-court serve-volley player with a good slice backhand. We are going to have to raise our games at least a level or two for us to win."

2004 FED CUP DRAW
The first round of the 2004 Fed Cup will be played on April 24-25:

U.S. at Slovenia
Slovak Republic at Austria
Australia at Russia
Japan at Argentina
Czech Republic at Italy
Germany at France
Switzerland at Spain
Croatia at Belgium

FED CUP FINAL TEAM HEAD-TO-HEAD
The U.S. leads France 10-0 in their World Group head-to-head encounters, though the two nations have never before met in the final:

1995 USA d. FRA 3-2 in USA on carpet (SF)
1994 USA d. FRA 3-0 in GER on clay (SF)
1992 USA d. FRA 2-1 in GER on clay (QF)
1987 USA d. FRA 3-0 in CAN on hardcourt (2nd rd.)
1979 USA d. FRA 3-0 in ESP on clay (QF)
1978 USA d. FRA 3-0 in AUS on grass (QF)
1977 USA d. FRA 3-0 in GBR on grass (QF)
1974 USA d. FRA 3-0 in ITA on clay (QF)
1968 USA d. FRA 2-1 in FRA on clay (QF)
1966 USA d. FRA 2-1 in ITA on clay (QF)

FED CUP FINAL INDIVIDUAL HEAD-TO-HEAD
The French hold a distinct head-to-head advantage over the American team, with only Chanda Rubin coming out ahead against French No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo:

Amelie MAURESMO (FRA) leads Lisa RAYMOND (USA) 4-0
2000 Moscow Carpet (I) 16 Amelie MAURESMO 6-2 6-4
2001 Amelia Island Clay (O) 16 Amelie MAURESMO 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3
2001 Charleston Clay (O) 16 Amelie MAURESMO 7-5 7-5
2003 Philadelphia Hard (I) QF Amelie MAURESMO 6-3 6-3

Amelie MAURESMO (FRA) leads Meghann SHAUGHNESSY (USA) 1-0
2003 Stuttgart Hard (I) 32 Amelie MAURESMO 7-6(4) 6-2

Mary PIERCE (FRA) leads Lisa RAYMOND (USA) 2-1
2000 U.S. Open Hard (O) 32 Mary PIERCE 6-4 7-6
2003 Wimbledon Grass (O) 32 Mary PIERCE 4-6 6-3 7-5
2003 San Diego Hard (O) 16 Lisa RAYMOND 6-7(5) 4-6

Mary PIERCE (FRA) vs. Meghann SHAUGHNESSY (USA)
No meetings.

FED CUP FINAL DRAW
Saturday, November 22 -- Lisa Raymond vs. Amelie Mauresmo, Meghann Shaughnessy vs. Mary Pierce
Sunday, November 23 -- Meghann Shaughnessy vs. Amelie Mauresmo, Lisa Raymond vs. Mary Pierce, Martina Navratilova/Lisa Raymond vs. Emilie Loit/Mary Pierce

NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS
All three of Spain's Davis Cup final appearances have been against Australia...Pat Cash says both the doubles teams in the Davis Cup final are weak: "On grass Australia look really serious favorites. The only real weakness is the doubles team. Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge have struggled along over the past few years but even then I don't think the Spanish have that great a doubles team. They're great on clay and possibly hardcourts but grass is not their strength, that's for sure."...John McEnroe went berserk the other day after losing his opening match at the senior tour stop in Monte Carlo to Henri Leconte, smashing a ball into an empty sponsor's box seat (code violation), and at the end storming off the court and launching his racquet bag into a wall: "He (Leconte) played great, he had a great start. I felt good but I wish I had a little more time. I felt I was starting to get going and starting to take control but its a roll of a dice in the (third set Champions') tiebreak. When a guy like Leconte gets up a set it's difficult. It's disappointing." Friday's results at the event were Camporese d. Noah, Wilander d. Leconte, McEnroe d. Bahrami, and Korda d. Muster...For a sweet young girl, Kim Clijsters can sure throw her weight around. After boycotting the Fed Cup semifinals, now the world No. 2 says she will skip the Athens Olympics if they don't let her appear in her Fila wear: "As long as my clothing remains an issue, it is impossible for me to go to the Olympics," Clijsters said on her Web site, "even though I would like to go and even though I would be able to fit it into my schedule." The Olympic tennis is sponsored by adidas, but Clijsters says she can only wear Fila. "Fila made a big commitment; everything is tailor made and they also produce a special clothing line. It seems normal that I respect my contract and do not play in another outfit. It has nothing to do with money." Tell that to Fila -- it's always about the money honey...The NFL says it will not suspend players for pre-Oct. 6 THG drug violations, what the ITF is re-testing tennis players' urine from the slams this year for THG right now, interesting to see how that will come out.