Russia, France Begin Play in Fed Cup Final; ITF Announces Fed Cup Restructuring

Posted on November 27, 2004

Russia Begins Run to First Fed Cup Trophy

Russia will be the overwhelming favorite Saturday in Moscow when the Russians face a depleted French team for their first Fed Cup title.

France, without top players Amelie Mauresmo (took a pass) and Mary Pierce (injury), beat Spain in the semifinals behind the singles play of No. 21-ranked Nathalie Dechy and the No. 27-ranked Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin.

Russia steamrolled Austria behind French Open champ Anastasia Myskina and US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.

France is hoping to defend their title from 2003 when they upset Russia in the semis, while the Russians this year rose to prominence for the first time, winning three of the four grand slams.

Kuznetsova will face Dechy in the first match Saturday (the Frenchwoman won their lone meeting at the beginning of this year), followed by Myskina vs. Hot Pants (first meeting).

"At the start of the year I was playing completely different tennis, and I didn't have any confidence when we played on the Gold Coast," said Kuznetsova on her loss to Dechy.

The Russians are 0-4 in Fed Cup finals, losing in 1988 (vs. Czechoslovakia), 1990 (U.S.), 1999 (U.S.), and 2001 (Belgium).

"I think, to be honest, it's the Russians who will decide how well they can play and what they can produce, and how high they can put the bar," said French captain Guy Forget.

Pairings Announced for 2005 Fed Cup Restructuring

The Fed Cup will have a "World Group I" and a "World Group II" in 2005, but they're not both the top tier "World Group" as defined by Davis Cup play.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced its confusing restructuring of the Fed Cup Friday, with an eight-team World Group I that will function as the main group, with the World Group II as sub-group of nations clamoring to qualify for a World Group I playoff round.

Nation match-ups in the World Group I, with first round play on April 23-24, 2005, are Russia at Italy, Belgium at the U.S., Argentine at Spain, and France at Austria. World Group II match-ups on the same date are Slovak Republic at Switzerland, Indonesia at Germany, Croatia at Thailand, and Japan at the Czech Republic, with the winners on to the playoff round.

"The changes that the ITF has made to Fed Cup come in response to the views of the players and our member national associations," said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. "We believe that the new format can only enhance the competition and bring it closer to the very successful Davis Cup model. Fed Cup is, if not the most important, surely one of the most important team competitions for women in sport and the ITF is convinced that these changes will allow Fed Cup to maintain this position for the future."

Unclear is why the Fed Cup did not employ a Davis Cup-style World Group comprised of only countries that can lift the Davis Cup, as opposed to the confusing World Group II designation.

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Juan Carlos Ferrero has signed on to play Auckland on Jan. 10, joining top players Guillermo "El Fragile" Coria, Tommy "The R." Robredo, Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty and Vince Spadea among others...Monica Seles says she will wait until next year to make a retirement decision: "By January, I will make a decision," Seles told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "If I can't play then I probably will (retire). But not until January. I am trying to get ready to play this year. I don't want to talk about it because I am still trying so hard. I am not going into it with that frame of mind. I am trying to stay in a positive frame of mind. I have been feeling good. I have been hitting in the morning and then in the afternoon about three times a week. It (the foot) is feeling better."...John McEnroe on Roger Federer: "If he can keep this level, even for another three or four years, he's going to be the greatest player that ever lived. That's saying something after watched a lot of great players. I've played for 15 years, been around for 12 years doing commentary, watched (Pete) Sampras win all those Wimbledons -- I was lucky enough to play a lot of great matches with (Bjorn) Borg and (Jimmy) Connors, but to me, Federer is the most awesome talent I've ever seen. I would never want to put anyone ahead of a guy like (Rod) Laver, who I idolized when I grew up, but Federer has got everything, and he's also got this supreme confidence and belief. Inevitably something is going to happen, he's going to get injured. I believe he's human, but at the moment he appears unbeatable. If he plays well I don't think anyone can beat him."...The U.S. will host Belgium, potentially featuring both Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, in the first round of the Fed Cup in April 2005...Jim Courier says Mardy Fish is out of water, and that Andy Roddick will have to win both his singles to give the U.S. a chance in the Davis Cup final at Spain: "America has an extremely difficult task ahead of them in playing the final in Seville. The team that Spain will throw against us will be very comprehensive. There is no question, on the clay, that they are a superior team on paper. Andy Roddick is going to have to rise to the occasion. I believe that he needs to win both of his singles matches to stand a chance."