2013/05/25

Final Results 2013 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group/World Group II Play-offs

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(April 22, 2013) Final results from the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs taking place on 20-21 April.

Italy will host Russia in the Fed Cup Final on 2-3 November. Russia defeated Slovak Republic 3-2 in Moscow and Italy defeated Czech Republic 3-1 in Palermo in a tie that finished on Monday.

Australia, Germany, Spain and USA have won their World Group play-off ties and will join Czech Republic, Italy, Russia and Slovak Republic in the 2014 World Group.

Winners of the World Group II play-offs Argentina, Canada, France and Poland will contest World Group II in 2014. The losing nations from the World Group play-offs, Japan, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland will also compete in World Group II.

The Europe/Africa Zone Group II event finished in Ulcinj, Montenegro on Saturday, with Latvia and Tunisia winning promotion to 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group I, and Estonia and Greece suffering relegation to 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group III.

The Draw for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be held during the 2013 ITF AGM in Paris on Wednesday 10 July.

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

ITALY defeated CZECH REPUBLIC 3-1

Venue: Circolo del Tennis Palermo, Palermo, ITA (clay – outdoors)

Sara Errani (ITA) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 64 62

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 64 61

Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 26 62 60

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 63 67(2) 63

Flavia Pennetta/Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Hradecka (CZE) – not played

RUSSIA defeated SLOVAK REPUBLIC 3-2

Venue: Sports Center Krylatskoye, Moscow, RUS (clay – indoors)

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 57 61 64
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 62 64
Maria Kirilenko (RUS d. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 75 61
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 63 46 64
Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Dominika Cibulkova/Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 46 63 61

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

GERMANY defeated SERBIA 3-2

Venue: Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, GER (clay – indoors)

Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 76(5) 26 62
Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 75 62
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Angelique Kerber (GER) 75 75
Mona Barthel (GER) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 61 36 63

Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. Vesna Dolonc/Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 62 64

AUSTRALIA defeated SWITZERLAND 3-1

Venue: Tennis Club Chiasso, Chiasso-Seseglio, SUI (clay – outdoors)

Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 60 64
Romina Oprandi (SUI) d. Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) 62 63

Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Romina Oprandi (SUI) 75 63

Ashleigh Barty (AUS) d. Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 63 64

Timea Bacsinszky/Amra Sadikovic (SUI) v Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua (AUS) – not played

SPAIN defeated JAPAN 4-0

Venue: Real Club de Polo, Barcelona, ESP (clay – outdoors)

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 63 64
Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 62 63

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 63 75

Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Misaki Doi (JPN) – not played

Lourdes Dominguez Lino/Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) v Shuko Aoyama/Misaki Doi (JPN) 64 75

USA defeated SWEDEN 3-1

Venue: Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Beach, USA (hard – outdoors)

Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d. Sloane Stephens (USA) 64 46 61

Serena Williams (USA) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 62 62

Serena Williams (USA) d. Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 62 61

Venus Williams (USA) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 63 75
Varvara Lepchenko/Venus Williams (USA) v Hilda Melander/Sandra Roma (SWE) – not played

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

POLAND defeated BELGIUM 4-1

Venue: Tennisclub Koksijde, Koksijde, BEL (hard – indoors)

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) 62 64

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 64 63

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 46 61 62

Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) 61 64

Katarzyna Piter/Alicja Rosolska (POL) d. Ysaline Bonaventure/An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) 63 46 107

FRANCE defeated KAZAKHSTAN 4-1

Venue: Palais des Sports de Besancon, Besancon, FRA (hard – indoors)

Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 60 63

Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. Alize Cornet (FRA) 26 63 62
Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 64 63

Alize Cornet (FRA) d. Ksenia Pervak (KAZ) 63 61

Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Sesil Karatantcheva/Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 62 75

ARGENTINA defeated GREAT BRITAIN 3-1

Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoors)

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) d. Johanna Konta (GBR) 63 62
Laura Robson (GBR) d. Florencia Molinero (ARG) 61 61

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) d. Laura Robson (GBR) 64 46 62

Maria Irigoyen (ARG) d. Elena Baltacha (GBR) 75 36 61

Mailen Auroux/Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Anne Keothavong/Johanna Konta (GBR) – not played

CANADA defeated UKRAINE 3-2

Venue: Sport Club Meridian, Kiev, UKR (clay – indoors)

Elina Svitolina (UKR) d. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 67(8) 63 62
Sharon Fichman (CAN) d. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 76(5) 26 63
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) d. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 64 75

Elina Svitolina (UKR) d. Sharon Fichman (CAN) 64 76(4)

Eugenie Bouchard/Sharon Fichman (CAN) d. Elina Svitolina/Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 64 63

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II, ULCINJ, MONTENEGRO, 17-20 APRIL

Promoted: Latvia and Tunisia

Relegated: Estonia and Greece

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Fed Cup Results for April 21, 2013

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(April 21, 2013) The latest results from the Fed Cup  World Group semifinals, World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs taking place on 20-21 April.

Russia is through to the Final after defeating Slovak Republic 3-2 in Moscow. The Russians will play the winner of the Italy v Czech Republic tie, which finished at 2-1 after bad light stopped play on Sunday. Play will resume in Palermo on Monday.

The winner of the Italy v Czech Republic semifinal will host the final on 2-3 November.

Germany, Spain and USA have won their World Group play-off ties and will join Czech Republic, Italy, Russia and Slovak Republic in the 2014 World Group.

The other World Group play-off between Switzerland and Australia is yet to start after rain stopped play on both Saturday and Sunday. Play is scheduled to commence on Monday in Chiasso.

Winners of the World Group II play-offs Argentina, Canada, France and Poland will contest World Group II in 2014. The losing nations from the World Group play-offs, Japan, Serbia and Sweden will also compete in World Group II.

The Europe/Africa Zone Group II event finished in Ulcinj, Montenegro on Saturday, with Latvia and Tunisia winning promotion to 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group I, and Estonia and Greece suffering relegation to 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group III.

The Draw for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be held during the 2013 ITF AGM in Paris on Wednesday 10 July.

 

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

ITALY leads CZECH REPUBLIC 2-1

Venue: Circolo del Tennis Palermo, Palermo, ITA (clay – outdoors)

Sara Errani (ITA) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 64 62

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 64 61

Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 26 62 60

Roberta Vinci (ITA) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Flavia Pennetta/Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Hradecka (CZE)

RUSSIA defeated SLOVAK REPUBLIC 3-2

Venue: Sports Center Krylatskoye, Moscow, RUS (clay – indoors)

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 57 61 64
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 62 64
Maria Kirilenko (RUS d. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 75 61
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 63 46 64
Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Dominika Cibulkova/Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 46 63 61

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

GERMANY defeated SERBIA 3-2

Venue: Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, GER (clay – indoors)

Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 76(5) 26 62
Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 75 62
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Angelique Kerber (GER) 75 75
Mona Barthel (GER) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 61 36 63

Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. Vesna Dolonc/Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 62 64

SWITZERLAND v AUSTRALIA no play due to rain (tie to resume at 08:00 GMT on Monday)

Venue: Tennis Club Chiasso, Chiasso-Seseglio, SUI (clay – outdoors)

Stefanie Voegele (SUI) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Romina Oprandi (SUI) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)

Romina Oprandi (SUI) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)

Stefanie Voegele (SUI) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)

Timea Bacsinszky/Amra Sadikovic (SUI) v Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua (AUS)

SPAIN defeated JAPAN 4-0

Venue: Real Club de Polo, Barcelona, ESP (clay – outdoors)

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 63 64
Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 62 63

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 63 75

Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Misaki Doi (JPN) – not played

Lourdes Dominguez Lino/Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) v Shuko Aoyama/Misaki Doi (JPN) 64 75

USA defeated SWEDEN 3-1

Venue: Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Beach, USA (hard – outdoors)

Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d. Sloane Stephens (USA) 64 46 61

Serena Williams (USA) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 62 62

Serena Williams (USA) d. Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 62 61

Venus Williams (USA) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 63 75
Varvara Lepchenko/Venus Williams (USA) v Sofia Arvidsson/Johanna Larsson (SWE)

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

POLAND defeated BELGIUM 4-1

Venue: Tennisclub Koksijde, Koksijde, BEL (hard – indoors)

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) 62 64

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 64 63

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 46 61 62

Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) 61 64

Katarzyna Piter/Alicja Rosolska (POL) d. Ysaline Bonaventure/An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) 63 46 107

FRANCE defeated KAZAKHSTAN 4-1

Venue: Palais des Sports de Besancon, Besancon, FRA (hard – indoors)

Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 60 63

Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. Alize Cornet (FRA) 26 63 62
Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 64 63

Alize Cornet (FRA) d. Ksenia Pervak (KAZ) 63 61

Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Sesil Karatantcheva/Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 62 75

ARGENTINA defeated GREAT BRITAIN 3-1

Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoors)

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) d. Johanna Konta (GBR) 63 62
Laura Robson (GBR) d. Florencia Molinero (ARG) 61 61

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) d. Laura Robson (GBR) 64 46 62

Maria Irigoyen (ARG) d. Elena Baltacha (GBR) 75 36 61

Mailen Auroux/Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Anne Keothavong/Johanna Konta (GBR) – not played

CANADA defeated UKRAINE 3-2

Venue: Sport Club Meridian, Kiev, UKR (clay – indoors)

Elina Svitolina (UKR) d. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 67(8) 63 62
Sharon Fichman (CAN) d. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 76(5) 26 63
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) d. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 64 75

Elina Svitolina (UKR) d. Sharon Fichman (CAN) 64 76(4)

Eugenie Bouchard/Sharon Fichman (CAN) d. Elina Svitolina/Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 64 63

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II, ULCINJ, MONTENEGRO, 17-20 APRIL

Promoted: Latvia and Tunisia

Relegated: Estonia and Greece

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Ivanovic Surprises Germany In World Group Playoff

Ana Ivanovic

By Tumaini Carayol

(April 21, 2013) STUTTGART – There were few surprises on the first day of the Fed Cup World Group playoff tie between Germany and Serbia. As expected, Ana Ivanovic maneuvered past Mona Barthel in a tight three-set contest that showcased the young German’s knack for producing both the spectacular and the gruesome in equal measure. Similarly predicable was a tough but straightforward victory for Germany’s own number one, as Angelique Kerber outran Bojana Jovanovski to balance the tie precariously at 1-1.

 

As the two number ones took to court on Sunday, first indications pointed to a yet another predictable result as Kerber raced to a 3-0 lead over the former French Open champion. Ivanovic arrived attempting to play her well-known attacking tennis, but struggled to find a sizable chink in the German’s defense Before long, the Serb faced the indignity of possibly falling to a 0-4 deficit and yet another tame loss to a top player appeared likelier with every stroke.

 

A myriad of loopy backhands, a handful slices and a few dropshots later, the first surprise of the weekend arose. Ivanovic suddenly moved further behind the baseline and, seemingly on a whim, decided that the world number five was deserving of none of the pace the Serb had been feeding her with. It’s no secret that – as Sara Errani can proudly attest to – Kerber detests “junk” and struggles when forced to create her own pace. The scoreline also agreed. From 3-0 and break point, Kerber suddenly found herself down 3-4 as Ivanovic flipped the match on its head, opening up a box of tricks that had steadily collected dust since that glorious spring in 2008.

 

From 4-3, a shift occurred, confidence appeared to well up inside of Ivanovic as the aggressive play returned. Though she continued to struggle on her return of serve, Ivanovic attempted to wash away her opponent by returning to the familiar feeling of dominating with her forehand. The times she found herself down break point, she responded by aggressively playing her way out of danger or else attacking before throwing in a well-timed slice to throw her opponent off. Kerber hung on, but the rapidly rising wave of inevitability eventually crashed down. Ivanovic broke in the twelfth game to take the set 7-5, fittingly ending with Kerber struggling to time yet another pace-changer from Ivanovic’s racket and directing a forehand into the tramlines.

 

The second set followed a similar pattern as the pair exchanged service holds during the early stages. Once again, Ivanovic broke at an important moment – the ever-pivotal eighth game – and appeared well on her way to capturing the match up 7-5, 5-3. After scraping back triple break point down, she finally found herself up match point. A big first serve followed, and all that stood between Ivanovic and her first claycourt top five victory was an short backhand. Two seconds later, the backhand was dumped into the middle of the net and ten minutes later the scores were tied at 5-5.

 

The predictable response from Ivanovic after failing so spectacularly on match point would have been a total collapse as Kerber finally burst to life with a slew of her own trademark passing shots. However, in her own words, Ivanovic remained calm and coolly held serve for 6-5. More match points passed by but this time she refused to be affected as she gleefully sank to her knees after eventually closing out a masterclass in playing reactionary tennis and adjusting her gameplan mid-match. Now that – that was a surprise.

Tumaini Carayol is in Suttgart covering the Fed Cup World Group Playoff for Tennis Panorama News. He is a contributing writer at On The Baseline, and writes about professional tennis at his site Foot Fault.

 

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Fed Cup Results for April 20, 2013

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(April 20, 2013) The latest results from the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs taking place on 20-21 April.

 

The Europe/Africa Zone Group II event finished in Ulcinj, Montenegro on Saturday, with Latvia and Tunisia winning promotion to 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group I, and Estonia and Greece suffering relegation to 2014 Europe/Africa Zone Group III.

 

The winner of the Italy v Czech Republic semifinal will host the final on 2-3 November. The four winners of the World Group play-offs will qualify for the 2014 World Group, while the four losers will contest the 2014 World Group II. The four winners of the World Group II play-offs will qualify for 2014 World Group II, while the four losers will contest their respective Zone Group I event in 2014.

 

The Draw for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be held during the 2013 ITF AGM in Paris on Wednesday 10 July.

 

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

 

ITALY leads CZECH REPUBLIC 2-0

Venue: Circolo del Tennis Palermo, Palermo, ITA (clay – outdoors)

 

Sara Errani (ITA) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 64 62

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 64 61

Sara Errani (ITA) v Petra Kvitova (CZE)

Roberta Vinci (ITA) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Flavia Pennetta/Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Hradecka (CZE)

 

SLOVAK REPUBLIC leads RUSSIA 2-0

Venue: Sports Center Krylatskoye, Moscow, RUS (clay – indoors)

 

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 57 61 64
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 62 64
Maria Kirilenko (RUS v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)
Ekaterina Makarova/ Elena Vesnina (RUS) v Jana Cepelova/ Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)

 

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

 

GERMANY level with SERBIA 1-1

Venue: Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, GER (clay – indoors)

 

Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 76(5) 26 62
Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 75 62
Angelique Kerber (GER) v Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
Mona Barthel (GER) v Bojana Jovanovski (SRB)

Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Sabine Lisicki (GER) v Vesna Dolonc/Aleksandra Krunic (SRB)

 

SWITZERLAND v AUSTRALIA no play due to rain (tie to resume at 07:30 GMT on Sunday)

Venue: Tennis Club Chiasso, Chiasso-Seseglio, SUI (clay – outdoors)

 

Stefanie Voegele (SUI) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Romina Oprandi (SUI) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)

Romina Oprandi (SUI) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)

Stefanie Voegele (SUI) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)

Timea Bacsinszky/Amra Sadikovic (SUI) v Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua (AUS)

SPAIN leads JAPAN 2-0

Venue: Real Club de Polo, Barcelona, ESP (clay – outdoors)

 

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Misaki Doi (JPN) 63 64
Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 62 63

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Ayumi Morita (JPN)

Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Misaki Doi (JPN)

Lourdes Dominguez Lino/Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) v Shuko Aoyama/Ayumi Morita (JPN)

 

USA level with SWEDEN 1-1

Venue: Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Beach, USA (hard – outdoors)

 

Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d. Sloane Stephens (USA) 64 46 61

Serena Williams (USA) d. Johanna Larsson (SWE) 62 62

Serena Williams (USA) v Sofia Arvidsson (SWE)

Sloane Stephens (USA) v Johanna Larsson (SWE)
Varvara Lepchenko/Venus Williams (USA) v Sofia Arvidsson/Johanna Larsson (SWE)

 

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

 

BELGIUM level with POLAND 1-1

Venue: Tennisclub Koksijde, Koksijde, BEL (hard – indoors)

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) 62 64

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 64 63

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) v Urszula Radwanska (POL)

Ysaline Bonaventure/An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) v Alicja Rosolska/ Katarzyna Piter (POL)

 

FRANCE level with KAZAKHSTAN 1-1

Venue: Palais des Sports de Besancon, Besancon, FRA (hard – indoors)

 

Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 60 63

Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. Alize Cornet (FRA) 26 63 62
Marion Bartoli (FRA) v Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)

Alize Cornet (FRA) v Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)

Alize Cornet/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Yaroslava Shvedova/Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)

 

ARGENTINA level with GREAT BRITAIN 1-1

Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoors)

 

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) d. Johanna Konta (GBR) 63 62
Laura Robson (GBR) d. Florencia Molinero (ARG) 61 61

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Laura Robson (GBR)

Florencia Molinero (ARG) v Johanna Konta (GBR)

Mailen Auroux/Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Anne Keothavong/Laura Robson (GBR)

 

UKRAINE level with CANADA 1-1

Venue: Sport Club Meridian, Kiev, UKR (clay – indoors)

 

Elina Svitolina (UKR) d. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 67(8) 63 62
Sharon Fichman (CAN) d. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 76(5) 26 63
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR v Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)

Elina Svitolina (UKR) v Sharon Fichman (CAN)

Yuliya Beygelzimer/Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) v Gabriela Dabrowski/ Sharon Fichman (CAN)

 

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II, ULCINJ, MONTENEGRO, 17-20 APRIL

 

Promoted: Latvia and Tunisia

Relegated: Estonia and Greece

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Fed Cup Draws for World Group Semifinals, World Group Play-offs

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(April 19, 2013) The ITF has announced the draws for the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs taking place on 20-21 April.

The winner of the Italy v Czech Republic semifinal will host the final on 2-3 November. The four winners of the World Group play-offs will qualify for the 2014 World Group, while the four losers will contest the 2014 World Group II. The four winners of the World Group II play-offs will qualify for 2014 World Group II, while the four losers will contest their respective Zone Group I event in 2014.

 

The Draw for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be held during the 2013 ITF AGM in Paris on Wednesday 10 July.

 

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

 

ITALY v CZECH REPUBLIC

Venue: Circolo del Tennis Palermo, Palermo, ITA (clay – outdoors)

 

Sara Errani (ITA) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Roberta Vinci (ITA) v Petra Kvitova (CZE)

Sara Errani (ITA) v Petra Kvitova (CZE)

Roberta Vinci (ITA) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Flavia Pennetta/Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Hradecka (CZE)

 

RUSSIA v SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Venue: Sports Center Krylatskoye, Moscow, RUS (clay – indoors)

 

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) v Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)
Maria Kirilenko (RUS v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)
Ekaterina Makarova/ Elena Vesnina (RUS) v Jana Cepelova/ Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)

 

 

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

 

GERMANY v SERBIA

Venue: Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, GER (clay – indoors)

 

Mona Barthel (GER) v Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
Angelique Kerber (GER) v Bojana Jovanovski (SRB)
Angelique Kerber (GER) v Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
Mona Barthel (GER) v Bojana Jovanovski (SRB)

Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Sabine Lisicki (GER) v Vesna Dolonc/Aleksandra Krunic (SRB)

 

SWITZERLAND v AUSTRALIA

Venue: Tennis Club Chiasso, Chiasso-Seseglio, SUI (clay – outdoors)

 

Stefanie Voegele (SUI) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Romina Oprandi (SUI) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)

Romina Oprandi (SUI) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)

Stefanie Voegele (SUI) v Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)

Timea Bacsinszky/Amra Sadikovic (SUI) v Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua (AUS)

SPAIN v JAPAN

Venue: Real Club de Polo, Barcelona, ESP (clay – outdoors)

 

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Misaki Doi (JPN)
Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Ayumi Morita (JPN)

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Ayumi Morita (JPN)

Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Misaki Doi (JPN)

Lourdes Dominguez Lino/Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) v Shuko Aoyama/Ayumi Morita (JPN)

 

USA v SWEDEN

Venue: Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Beach, USA (hard – outdoors)

 

Sloane Stephens (USA) v Sofia Arvidsson (SWE)

Serena Williams (USA) v Johanna Larsson (SWE)

Serena Williams (USA) v Sofia Arvidsson (SWE)

Sloane Stephens (USA) v Johanna Larsson (SWE)
Varvara Lepchenko/Venus Williams (USA) v Sofia Arvidsson/Johanna Larsson (SWE)

 

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

 

BELGIUM v POLAND

Venue: Tennisclub Koksijde, Koksijde, BEL (hard – indoors)

Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Urszula Radwanska (POL)

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

Alison van Uytvanck (BEL) v Urszula Radwanska (POL)

Ysaline Bonaventure/An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) v Alicja Rosolska/ Katarzyna Piter (POL)

 

FRANCE v KAZAKHSTAN

Venue: Palais des Sports de Besancon, Besancon, FRA (hard – indoors)

 

Marion Bartoli (FRA) v Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)

Alize Cornet (FRA) v Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)
Marion Bartoli (FRA) v Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)

Alize Cornet (FRA) v Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)

Alize Cornet/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Yaroslava Shvedova/Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)

 

 

ARGENTINA v GREAT BRITAIN

Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoors)

 

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Johanna Konta (GBR)
Florencia Molinero (ARG) v Laura Robson (GBR)

Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Laura Robson (GBR)

Florencia Molinero (ARG) v Johanna Konta (GBR)

Mailen Auroux/Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Anne Keothavong/Laura Robson (GBR)

 

UKRAINE v CANADA

Venue: Sport Club Meridian, Kiev, UKR (clay – indoors)

 

Elina Svitolina (UKR) v Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) v Sharon Fichman (CAN)
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR v Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)

Elina Svitolina (UKR) v Sharon Fichman (CAN)

Yuliya Beygelzimer/Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) v Gabriela Dabrowski/ Sharon Fichman (CAN)

 

 

 

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II

 

Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro and Tunisia have advanced to the promotional play-offs in the Europe/Africa Zone Group II event in Ulcinj, Montenegro, taking place on 17-20 April. Group A winners Tunisia will play Group B runners up Lithuania and Group B winners Montenegro will play Group A runners up Latvia on Saturday, with the winners promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2014.

 

Finland, Greece, Estonia and South Africa will contest the relegation play-off. Finland, who finished third in Group B, will face Greece, who propped up Group A, while Estonia, who finished bottom of Group B will play South Africa, third-placed finishers in Group A. The two losing nations will be relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group III in 2014.

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Hantuchova, Radwanska, Voskoboeva, Goncalves win Fed Cup Heart Awards

fedcupheart

(April 16, 2013) The ITF has announced the first four winners of the 2013 Fed Cup Heart Award. Slovak Republic’s Daniela Hantuchova claims her second career Heart Award for her performance in the World Group and World Group II first round category, while the Zone Group I winners are Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva and Brazil’s Paula Cristina Goncalves. The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas ties took place in February.

 

The four Heart Award recipients were decided by a public vote on FedCup.com and FedCup.com/es that saw over 23,000 fans make their selection. Ten players were initially shortlisted by a judging panel consisting of ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and a group of former Fed Cup players and members of the international media. All the winners receive a cheque to be donated to their chosen charity.

 

Hantuchova, Radwanska and Voskoboeva will all receive their awards during this weekend’s Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs taking place on 20-21 April.

 

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “There were some outstanding performances during the Fed Cup ties in February, so I would like to congratulate all four players for coming out on top of the public vote. The Fed Cup Heart Award continues to reward players for the commitment they make to their team and the competition as a whole. I am sure that all the winners will take great pride in making their donations to charity.”

 

The Fed Cup Heart Award is an ITF initiative that was first presented to USA’s Melanie Oudin at the 2009 Fed Cup Final. It aims to recognize players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their team. A total of five players will be recognized in 2013.

 

Daniela Hantuchova was largely responsible for clinching Slovak Republic’s World Group first round victory over Serbia after her compatriot Dominika Cibulkova was forced to retire midway through her match on the opening day. The Slovak No. 2 used all of her experience to help her team reach the World Group semifinals for the first time since 2002 by defeating Bojana Jovanovski 75 62 and Vesna Dolonc 63 62.

 

Agnieszka Radwanska carried her team out of Europe/Africa Zone Group I and into the World Group II play-offs after winning all six of her rubbers in Eilat, including two decisive doubles matches against Israel and Croatia. The world No. 4 managed to deal with the weight of expectation and showed that Poland will be difficult to defeat this weekend.

 

Galina Voskoboeva left little doubt as to her commitment to Kazakhstan after her performances in the doubles helped the host nation win Asia/Oceania Zone Group I and earn a place in the World Group play-offs for the first time. The 28-year old also became Kazakhstan’s best Fed Cup player ever, after her three victories increased her total win-loss record in the competition to 18-6.

 

Paula Cristina Goncalves won all five rubbers she played for Brazil as her team narrowly failed to qualify from Americas Zone Group I. Her four singles wins included a comeback victory from a set down against Sharon Fichman in the promotion play-off against Canada, and she also teamed with Teliana Pereira to win the only doubles rubber she contested.

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Fed Cup Announces Team Nominations for World Group Semifinals, World Group Play-offs and World Group II Play-offs

FedCupLogo

(April 10, 2013) The ITF has announced the official team nominations for the Fed Cup by World Group semifinals, World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs, taking place on 20-21 April. In addition, the Zone Group II Europe/Africa event is taking place from 17-20 April in Ulcinj, Montenegro.

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

ITALY v CZECH REPUBLIC

Venue: Circolo del Tennis Palermo, Palermo, ITA (clay – outdoors)

Italy

Sara Errani

Roberta Vinci

Francesca Schiavone

Flavia Pennetta

Captain: Corrado Barazzutti

Czech Republic

Petra Kvitova

Klara Zakopalova

Lucie Safarova

Lucie Hradecka

Captain: Petr Pala

RUSSIA v SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Venue: Sports Center Krylatskoye, Moscow, RUS (clay – indoors)

Russia

Maria Kirilenko

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Ekaterina Makarova

Elena Vesnina

Captain: Shamil Tarpischev

Slovak Republic

Dominika Cibulkova

Magdalena Rybarikova

Daniela Hantuchova

Jana Cepelova

Captain: Matej Liptak

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

GERMANY v SERBIA

Venue: Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, GER (clay – indoors)

Germany

Angelique Kerber

Mona Barthel

Julia Goerges

Sabine Lisicki

Captain: Barbara Rittner

Serbia

Ana Ivanovic

Bojana Jovanovski

Vesna Dolonc

Aleksandra Krunic

Captain: Dejan Vranes

SWITZERLAND v AUSTRALIA

Venue: Tennis Club Chiasso, Chiasso-Seseglio, SUI (clay – outdoors)

Switzerland

Romina Oprandi

Stefanie Voegele

Timea Bacsinszky

Amra Sadikovic

Captain: Heinz Guenthardt

Australia

Samantha Stosur

Casey Dellacqua

Ashleigh Barty

Jarmila Gajdosova

Captain: Alicia Molik

SPAIN v JAPAN

Venue: Real Club de Polo, Barcelona, ESP (clay – outdoors)

Spain

Carla Suarez Navarro

Lourdes Dominguez Lino

Silvia Soler-Espinosa
Lara Arruabarrena

Captain: Conchita Martinez

Japan

Ayumi Morita

Misaki Doi

Kurumi Nara

Shuko Aoyama

Captain: Takeshi Murakami

USA v SWEDEN

Venue: Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Beach, USA (hard – outdoors)

USA

Serena Williams

Sloane Stephens

Venus Williams

Varvara Lepchenko

Captain: Mary Joe Fernandez

Sweden

Sofia Arvidsson

Johanna Larsson

Hilda Melander

Sandra Roma

Captain: Lars-Anders Wahlgren

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

BELGIUM v POLAND

Venue: Tennisclub Koksijde, Koksijde, BEL (hard – indoors)

Belgium

Kirsten Flipkens

Alison Van Uytvanck

An-Sophie Mestach

Ysaline Bonaventure

Captain: Ann Devries

Poland

Agnieszka Radwanska

Urszula Radwanska

Katarzyna Piter

Alicja Rosolska

Captain: Tomasz Wiktorowski

FRANCE v KAZAKHSTAN

Venue: Palais des Sports de Besancon, Besancon, FRA (hard – indoors)

France

Marion Bartoli

Alize Cornet

Kristina Mladenovic

Caroline Garcia

Captain: Amelie Mauresmo

Kazakhstan

Yaroslava Shvedova

Ksenia Pervak

Galina Voskoboeva

Sesil Karatantcheva
Captain: Dias Doskarayev

ARGENTINA v GREAT BRITAIN

Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoors)

Argentina

Paula Ormaechea

Maria Irigoyen

Florencia Molinero

Mailen Auroux

Captain: Bettina Fulco

Great Britain

Laura Robson

Johanna Konta

Anne Keothavong

Elena Baltacha

Captain: Judy Murray

UKRAINE v CANADA

Venue: Sport Club Meridian, Kiev, UKR (clay – indoors)

Ukraine

Lesia Tsurenko

Elina Svitolina

Yuliya Beygelzimer

Kateryna Kozlova

Captain: Igor Dernovskyi

Canada

Eugenie Bouchard

Sharon Fichman

Stephanie Dubois

Gabriela Dabrowski

Captain: Sylvain Bruneau

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II TEAM NOMINATIONS

http://www.fedcup.com/en/draws-results/group-ii/europe-africa/2013.aspx

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Venus Williams Withdraws from Miami

 

Venus Williams flora quarters

(March 23, 2013) Venus Williams withdrew from the Sony Open with a lower back injury on Saturday. She was scheduled to play Sloane Stephens in the third round.

Williams said that on Friday she had some pain and wanted to see how she felt in the warmup.

“Just after my warmup. I just realized that I wasn’t going to be able to be competitive at all today,” she said.

“It’s really disappointing,” Williams said.

“This is just the kind of tournament that, you know, you want to play well at.  But, you know, I have faced disappointments in my life and my career.  It’s not the first; probably not the last.

“Just have to get through it and stay positive.”

Williams spoke about her upcoming schedule: “Well, I’m playing in Charleston, so that’s really still my goal, to get ready to play there.”

“That’s always a concern, but I have dealt with injuries before in my whole career,” she said in reference to her injury. “I feel like also I know how to hopefully recover quickly from them.”

Williams said that she’s available to play for the US in Fed Cup in Delray Beach the weekend of April 20-21 for the World Group Playoff tie versus Sweden.

“Yeah, I’m available,” she said.  “Yes.”

With the withdrawal, Sloane Stephens will advance to the next round to play Miami defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska.

 

Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama

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USTA Selects Delray Beach as Site for Fed Cup World Group Playoff Versus Sweden

usfedcupteam

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., February 26, 2013 – The USTA announced today that the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla., has been selected as the site for the 2013 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Playoff between the United States and Sweden, April 20-21.

 

“Delray Beach has a strong history of hosting Fed Cup competition, so we know that the fans will come out to cheer on the U.S. team to victory,” said U.S. Fed Cup Team Captain Mary Joe Fernandez.  “The team fought hard on the road in the first round in Italy, so we are excited to play at home this time and take on Sweden. There is nothing like playing Fed Cup in front of a patriotic crowd.”

 

The event is being organized, staged and promoted by the USTA. Ticket information will be available at a later date.  Fans can call the U.S. Fed Cup hotline at (888) 334-8782 or visit www.usta.com/fedcup to receive the latest ticket information.  Local sponsors include the City of Delray Beach, Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

 

“Our city is proud to host Fed Cup,” said Thomas Carney, Delray Beach Mayor. “We are known for our hospitality and top-rated sports facilities. This event is a win for Fed Cup and a win for Delray Beach. Our community is excited to show the world what a great place this is.”

 

The winner of this match will advance to the 2014 World Group and have a chance to compete for the Fed Cup title next year.  The loser will be relegated to World Group II in 2014. The U.S. fell to Italy, 3-2, in the 2013 World Group first round in Rimini, Italy, February 9-10, despite two singles victories by world No. 25 Varvara Lepchenko over world No. 8 Sara Errani and world No. 16 Roberta Vinci in Lepchenko’s Fed Cup debut.

 

The World Group Playoff will mark the fifth matchup between the U.S. and Sweden in Fed Cup competition with the U.S. leading the series, 3-1. The two nations last faced each other in the second round of 1988 World Group competition, where the Swedes won, 2-1. The U.S. won the other three match-ups in 1966, 1975, and 1983.

 

This will be the fourth Fed Cup tie played in Florida and the third played at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, making it the only venue to host a U.S. Fed Cup tie on three occasions. The U.S. squad has never lost a match in its three previous trips to Florida, posting 5-0 sweeps over Austria in the 1995 World Group quarterfinal in Aventura, and against Belgium in the 2005 World Group quarterfinal and the 2007 World Group quarterfinal, both in Delray Beach.

 

The United States last played at home in Fed Cup competition during the 2012 World Group II First Round in Worcester, Mass., where the U.S. swept Belarus, 5-0. The U.S. is 36-4 all-time in Fed Cup ties played at home.

 

The best-of-five match series begins on Saturday, April 20, with two singles matches and is followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match on Sunday, April 21.  This Fed Cup tie will follow the USTA Boys’ and Girls’ 12s National Spring Championships being held April 8-13 in Delray Beach. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage of the World Group Playoff.

 

The site selection is subject to final approval by the International Tennis Federation.

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Draws Announced for Fed Cup Play-Offs

FedCupLogo

(February 13, 2013) The ITF has announced the draws for the 2013 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II play-offs on 20-21 April:

 

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

 

Germany (c) (*) v Serbia (s)

Australia (s) (c) v Switzerland

Spain (c) (*) v Japan (s)

USA (s) (c) (*) v Sweden

 

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

 

Belgium (s) (c) v Poland

France (s) (c) (*) v Kazakhstan

Argentina (c) (*) v Great Britain (s)

Ukraine (s) (c) (*) v Canada

 

(s) = seed

(c) = choice of ground

(*) = choice of ground decided by lot

 

 

The 2013 World Group and World Group II play-offs will take place alongside the World Group semifinals on 20-21 April. In the semifinals, Italy will be at home to Czech Republic, and Russia will be at home to Slovak Republic.

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