Fed Cup Tie's Discussion

boredone3456 · Feb 1, 2011

Well not that anyone cares but the Fed Cup Tie Lineups have been announced and the first rounds are as follows

Australia vs Italy
Russia vs France
Slovak Rep. vs Czech Repub.
Belgium vs USA

Australia vs Italy: This one I am thinking may be interesting. Italy has been really the dominant force in the past few years it seems and their team of Schiavone, Pennetta, Errani and Vinci is really good on paper. The Australians though have a pretty strong looking team to in Stosur, Groth, Stubbs and Rodionova. Schiavone and Pennetta as well as Stosur and Groth should be doing singles and the deciding doubles rubber may be tight, but if Italy is going to win I think they are going to need to do it in singles. If this was on clay, huge advantage Italy but I'm thinking as its on Hard Courts...Australia may pull this out. I am thinking this may be one of the more competitive ties

Russia vs France: On paper this looks like it should be a Demolition for Russia, but Sharapova, Safina and Pavyluchenkova all have problems and Kuznetsova hasn't been great lately either so if Razzano and Cornet actually play their best for France it could be murky for the Russians. I think Russia wins this though.

Slovak vs Czech: Hmmm...no clue. On paper I think the czechs have a stronger team but Hantuchova and Cibulkova at their rarely seen bests I think are the best players in this tie, but they are both so erratic it could be interesting.

Belgium vs USA: the USA I think is completely screwed. Clijsters is playing for Belgium and she is the hottest player on tour right now and Wickmayer if she actually plays well well...it could be 4-1 for Belgium, I think the USA with Huber and King playing doubles may at least win that one but the USA's only chance is if Wickmayer loses both of her rubbers and I don't see that happening, one maybe...2...no.

Underhand · Feb 1, 2011

What? Fed Cup? Is it something like 2 Girls 1 Cup?

GRANITECHIEF · Feb 1, 2011

More like 4 or 5 girls, 1 cup.

li0scc0 · Feb 1, 2011

Italy, Russia, Czech, and USA will win. Is Clijsters REALLY doing this? Is Mattek-Sands OUT?

soyizgood · Feb 1, 2011

I haven't seen the player list for USA. That said, Clijsters might play half-heartedly here. Wickmayer is so hot-or-cold. Doubles should be a win for USA. We just don't have a good side and won't anytime soon.

Czech Republic playing their former countrymen... They should win. I haven't seen the lineup, but Kvitova should overwhelm Hantuchova and Cibulkova. Benesova would be the wildcard here.

I suspect Italy would play Schiavone and Pennetta for singles, but Pennetta just came off winning the AO doubles. Neither of the two are world beaters, so the Stosur-Schiavone match could be the one that decides it. Rodionova would have to be an ultra beeotch for them to win the doubles.

Russia... uhhh should win, but this lineup is not ideal for them. In an early round match like this, why not use more of the younger players? Makarova, Kirilenko, Kleybanova could get through France + get qualified for Olympics since Russia's crew of former elites are going down in the ranks.

li0scc0 · Feb 2, 2011

I watched Wickmayer play doubles, and she was not very good (in that one match). I do like her singles game, however.
Pennetta is amazing at doubles, of course, and is a solid singles player.
For Russia...Kirilenko is an excellent doubles player.
It should be fun, I really enjoy the Fed Cup.

soyizgood · Feb 2, 2011

Romania lost 3-0 to the Netherlands... HOW? Romania had 3 players in the top 100 vs 0 for the Netherlands. At least use the two other players for the doubles.... and they didn't even do that.

boredone3456 · Feb 2, 2011

soyizgood said:
Romania lost 3-0 to the Netherlands... HOW? Romania had 3 players in the top 100 vs 0 for the Netherlands. At least use the two other players for the doubles.... and they didn't even do that.

All the Romanian players while gifted, are also extremely erratic and inconsistent in their delivery. Cirstea is probably their best and lately she just isn't delivering anywhere, so its not all that surprising.

soyizgood · Feb 2, 2011

boredone3456 said:
All the Romanian players while gifted, are also extremely erratic and inconsistent in their delivery. Cirstea is probably their best and lately she just isn't delivering anywhere, so its not all that surprising.

I was expecting Dulgheru, ranked #29, to at least add a win for them. They didn't even use Cirstea. Romania will be under the shadows of Russia/Czech Republic/Slovakia/Italy for a little longer.

boredone3456 · Feb 3, 2011

soyizgood said:
I was expecting Dulgheru, ranked #29, to at least add a win for them. They didn't even use Cirstea. Romania will be under the shadows of Russia/Czech Republic/Slovakia/Italy for a little longer.

Dulgheru is ranked that high? LOL I didn't even know that. I have seen her play and her game, while ok, is nothing amazing to me anyway. She plays a lot of events so and has some runs I guess, but I never really saw anything about her that seemed all that memorable. They didn't even use Cirstea? I mean she lately has been a floundering fish out of water but she is still probably their best player in terms of ability at her best.

Love Game · Feb 3, 2011

Great OP, boredone!

The first round of the 2011 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas takes place this weekend ...

Maria Sharapova makes her first appearance at a home tie, when she spearheads Russia's World Group clash with France in Moscow. Sharapova made her competition debut three years ago in Israel, winning both of her singles matches against a side led by Shahar Peer.

"That was a perfect experience for me,'' Sharapova said on Wednesday. "I think mentally it will be much easier this time. The crowd will cheer for us and no one will be throwing walnuts!''

Joining the 23-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion in the squad is two-time major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, as well as former No.1 Dinara Safina and teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who is at a career-high No.14 in the rankings this week.

Ominously for the visitors, Russia hasn't been beaten at home in eight ties, since losing to France in the 2003 semis. That streak also includes wins over France in both the 2004 and 2005 finals. In the absence of Marion Bartoli and Aravane Rezai, this time France is led by 21-year-old Alizé Cornet, who bounced up to No.67 in the rankings after her feisty third round showing against Kim Clijsters at the Australian Open. Cornet's teammates include Virginie Razzano, Pauline Parmentier and Julie Coin.

In April's semis, the winner of the Moscow showdown will face either two-time defending champion Italy, or Australia - back in the elite eight after a six year absence. Fans in Hobart eagerly await a repeat of last year's French Open final between Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur, who are joined in their respective squads by Flavia Pennetta and Jarmila Groth, who won her second WTA title in Hobart in January.

But despite Groth's good form, the Italians will start as firm favorites, after Schiavone reached the quarters in Melbourne and Pennetta the last 16. What's more, as well as being the 2006, 2009 and 2010 Fed Cup champions, the Italians have won seven of their past eight away ties. If the Aussies go down, it could prove to be the career swansong of doubles stalwart Rennae Stubbs.

Another side that should be buoyed by recent form is the Czech Republic, which faces the Slovak Republic in a local derby between two nations that played under the same flag until 1994.

Dominika Cibulkova and Daniela Hantuchova lead the Slovaks at home in Bratislava but they have a mountain to climb if they want to improve on their 0-3 record against their close neighbors: Petra Kvitova made her Top 20 debut this week after winning in Brisbane and reaching the last eight in Melbourne, and Lucie Safarova - another lefty - also showed good form Down Under.

Of course, the player who has had least time to recover is new world No.2 Clijsters; less than a week after she won her fourth Grand Slam title in Melbourne, she leads Belgium against the United States in Antwerp. The 27-year-old mom is ably assisted by Yanina Wickmayer, while the Williams-less American side features loyal soldiers Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Melanie Oudin, Vania King and Liezel Huber.

Elsewhere, World Group II action sees Spain face Estonia in Talinn; Germany tackle Slovenia in Maribor; and Ukraine play Sweden in Helsingborg. For Canada, a Jelena Jankovic-led Serbia looms large in Belgrade.

And three of the Top 10 wage battle under their flags in the Europe/Africa Zone competition being held in Eilat, Israel. World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki is in action for Denmark; No.9 Victoria Azarenka for Belarus; and No.10 Agnieszka Radwanska for Poland.

http://www.wtatour.com/news/20110203/fed-cup-preview_2256076_2284362

soyizgood · Feb 3, 2011

Fed Cup page

http://www.fedcup.com/en/home.aspx

Has the main group as well as the zone groups.

Netherlands have a young squad and they've blitzed their two opponents, winning all 6 matches in Group 1-D
Belarus doing the same in Group 1-C
Group B is up for grabs as every country has lost one encounter
Switzerland clinched Group 1-A

For the Group 1 teams:

- Round-robin: Fifteen nations in four pools
- Promotion: Winners of each pool play off to decide which two nations progress to World Group II play-offs (16-17 April)
- Relegation: Nations finishing fourth in each pool play off to decide which two nations are relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group II for 2012
- Nations: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Switzerland

JoelDali · Feb 3, 2011

I'll watch it since its named after Rogi.

HackersRUs · Feb 3, 2011

watch the australians, it is being played in Hobart on the same court Groth won her second WTA tournament on just before the AO. Stosur is, well, who knows which Stosur will turn up, but they are very good at doubles...

Love Game · Feb 3, 2011

HackersRUs said:
watch the australians, it is being played in Hobart on the same court Groth won her second WTA tournament on just before the AO. Stosur is, well, who knows which Stosur will turn up, but they are very good at doubles...

promises to be a good one ... if the players aren't too knackered!

Samantha Stosur (AUS) and Francesca Schiavone (ITA).

Sunny skies and sunny smiles from both teams following the draw for the 2011 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas first round tie between the two-time defending champions from Italy and the second most successful team in the 49-year-old competition, Australia. Friday's matches will be crucial but tennis fans in Hobart, Australia are excited about the rematch of last year's Roland Garros women's final on Sunday with the hope that Australia's No. 1 Samantha Stosur can get revenge against Italy's No. 1 Francesca Schiavone in the first of the reverse singles. ...

http://www.fedcup.com/en/news/articles/australia-v-italy---friday.aspx

bezs · Feb 4, 2011

Groth has almost pulled off a comeback win against Schiavone after going a set down.

Wozzi got a head shot while playing in the doubles.
http://sporten.tv2.dk/article.php/id-37119911:tv-wozniacki-skudt-ned-i-israel.html?forside

soyizgood · Feb 4, 2011

Groth prevailed. Might be trouble for Italy seeing their #1 go down.

Love Game · Feb 4, 2011

R2 is in a rain delay, but atm there are some links @ http://www.livescorehunter.com/Livescores/Livescore-Tennis.html

EDIT: Play has resumed, Italy serving 1-2

Love Game · Feb 4, 2011

LIVE SCORES @
http://www.fedcup.com/en/home.aspx

... World Group Ties to begin later ...

soyizgood · Feb 4, 2011

Stosur choking on her serve when serving for the set.. broken.
Flavia serving to stay in set 4-5.

Love Game · Feb 4, 2011

flavia's the iron maiden if she can pull this one out after her recent AO doubles championship ...... she holds to love to open the second set, after having taken the first set TB

won't help sam's state of mind that she's never won a single set off flavia in their three previous meetings

soyizgood · Feb 4, 2011

Stosur is such a choker. Both sets she's had the chance to serve it out and failed both times.
Pennetta DFs set pt. Going to a 3rd set. Flavia lost the last 4 pts of that TB after leading 5-3 in it.

Love Game · Feb 4, 2011

it's hard to understand little sammi stosur ... she played so well to break and consolidate in the second, then was broken to love when serving for the set .......... she's just lucky that pennetta DF to lose that second set TB

I was wondering about flavia's left thigh since she had it strapped in her AO dubs final .... and she did have a mto in the second to get it strapped again here today.

theyve each got 83 points at 30 all in the first game of the deciding set .......

bezs · Feb 4, 2011

Just saw Clijsters is gonna be facing Oudin, she's going take Oudin to school in that meeting.

Fedace · Feb 5, 2011

Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin against USA, WOW no match.

bezs · Feb 5, 2011

Flavia lets Sam break her and Sam gives the break right back....tsk tsk

Love Game · Feb 5, 2011

^^^ rotten shame ..........

but Italy serving for the match,
levels the tie, taking deciding set 6-4!

Fedace · Feb 5, 2011

Love Game said:
^^^ rotten shame ..........

but Italy serving for the match,
levels the tie, taking deciding set 6-4!

is this on somewhere ??

Love Game · Feb 5, 2011

Fedace said:
is this on somewhere ??

sorry, dahling, just saw this now ......... yes, I gave the link above @ http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=5400361&postcount=18

australia/italy is over for today, reverse singles tomorrow

at this point, theyre not showing links to the other world group matches mentioned above ... that is, no links so far @ LSH, but they MIGHT turn up as match time approaches. also, the official website (link also above) provides a subscription, if anybody wants to go that route!

Love Game · Feb 5, 2011

Love Game · Feb 5, 2011

bezs said:
Just saw Clijsters is gonna be facing Oudin, she's going take Oudin to school in that meeting.

especially since theyre playing in belgium! :twisted:

13.30 Antwerp = 04.30 Pacific = 07.30 Eastern

bezs · Feb 5, 2011

Safina and Pavlyuchenkova will be playing the doubles for Russia not sure what to make of that pairing.

1970CRBase · Feb 5, 2011

^ THAT is the best line up the USA can produce these days? :shock: So sad.

lonux · Feb 5, 2011

Wickmayer is learning Mattek-Sands how to play tennis right now. Go Belgium!

Fedace · Feb 5, 2011

Wow,,,Kuznetsova has been sucking up the court lately. Goes down in the 1st rubber to Alize Cornet of France. In Russia at home court nonetheless.....................LOL

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

I really question putting Kuzzy in singles. She's not a bad doubles player so I would have left her to partner with Safina. Pavlyuchenkova has played Fed Cup before and is their highest ranked player in this lineup.

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

Sharapova down a set to Razzano. 6 DFs in the 1st set for Sharapova.

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

Is Russia too cheap to have Hawkeye? Heck the Czech-Slovak match has it..

Razzano up a double break in the 2nd set 4-1. Sharapova is slow, sloppy, and useless.

Might be life. Sharapova just a break down. Razzano serving 4-3.

Now 4-4.

Break-fest. Razzano breaks Sharapova again. Razzano serving for the match 5-4.

3 MP... and it's over. France up 2-0.

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

Kvitova wins 6-2 6-3. Czech up 2-0.

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

Kuzzy had 24W-62UE, Cornet 26W-61UE
Sharapova had 9W-46UE. Oh and 10 DFs too I believe.

I thought playing for your country was motivation to bring out your best. YIKES!

sdont · Feb 5, 2011

^^ Just wow. :shock:

I mean, Alizé has been useless for what seems like an eternity, and Virginie just came back from injury. I'm happy they both won but it's still quite shocking results.

HarveyPitnik · Feb 5, 2011

Despite all the highs and lows of the russian ladies I had difficulties to believe results from Russia-France! :shock: Maybe they are just making this interesting & exciting!?! :lol:

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

Russia's coach now has his work cut out. France's coach was actually doing his job.

Based on today's matches Sharapova should be replaced by Pavlyuchenkova. Sharapova was only playing for Olympic eligibility anyway. As for Kuzzy, I don't know. I would not put Safina in her place.

I guess Safina could and should beat Cornet in singles. Then put Pavlyuchenkova vs Razzano. But even with that idea I'm not thrilled with it because Pavlyuchenkova and Safina are also on-demand UE machines.

I guess I'll congratulate France for the upset in advance because Russia is screwed.

bezs · Feb 5, 2011

Only just realized Cornet is only 21 its as if she's been around for a long time.

jones101 · Feb 5, 2011

soyizgood said:
Russia's coach now has his work cut out. France's coach was actually doing his job.

Based on today's matches Sharapova should be replaced by Pavlyuchenkova. Sharapova was only playing for Olympic eligibility anyway. As for Kuzzy, I don't know. I would not put Safina in her place.

I guess Safina could and should beat Cornet in singles. Then put Pavlyuchenkova vs Razzano. But even with that idea I'm not thrilled with it because Pavlyuchenkova and Safina are also on-demand UE machines.

I guess I'll congratulate France for the upset in advance because Russia is screwed.

I think I would play Masha against Cornet, no matter how bad she is playing she will have chances on the Cornet serve.

I would play Pavy against Razzano and partner Kuzy/Safina in the doubs.

Under NO circumstanes should Safina play singles. She has only won 1 GAME in her last 2 matches. A similar loss at home may destroy her.

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

Safina should not play singles, I agree. She shouldn't have even been asked to come.

Russia should have sent 3 singles' specialists, not 4. And players coming into the event in form. None of them can say that.

Seeing that the French are not composed of headcases I don't really like Russia's odds. Sharapova's losing to bottom feeders the past 2+ years and Kuznetsova can lose to just about anybody. Pavlyuchenkova could beat Cornet, but not sure this 2011 version of Kuznetsova will take out Razzano. If they somehow make it to the doubles decider, Russia will need Kuzzy and Safina to be on their good behavior.

Love Game · Feb 5, 2011

Glad I missed USA getting beat by Belgium today!

Stosur v Schiavone will begin in a couple hours,
followed by Groth v Pennetta @ http://www.livescorehunter.com/Livescores/Livescore-Tennis.html

It would be NICE if Stosur, in light of her historically excellent Fed Cup record, could win one for her team! :roll:

If Pennetta is still having left thigh issues, Groth could win that contest!

Italy's been on top for too long, so I'm rooting for Australia this time around ... if it goes to a fifth rubber, A. RODIONOVA/R. STUBBS s/b able to beat S. ERRANI/R. VINCI ... that's supposing Captain Barazzutti doesn't pull a substitution!

Love Game · Feb 5, 2011

Results After Singles R1 & R2

http://www.fedcup.com/en/home.aspx

1970CRBase · Feb 5, 2011

nice play from Francesca against Stosur. was 15-40 down 2bp , brings Sam in with dropshot, volley lobs. Then saves next bp with serve n volley... but Stosur goes down line deuce

AHHHHH HEWWWW!!!

Sam lost a very tight first set in the tb but is now 5-2 up in the second.

soyizgood · Feb 5, 2011

Stosur is a supreme choker. On her own home soil she fails yet again. For whatever reason Pennetta owns her. Schiavone was a better matchup for her and Groth had beaten her the prior day. I didn't get to see the match but it just seems Stosur loses focus and composure at the wrong times. Her serve is top 3, her forehand is overpowering. Baffling...

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