Mary Joe Fernandez will coach Fed Cup team next year, take over as captain in 2009

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=ap-fedcup-captain&prov=ap&type=lgns

December 17, 2007

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) -- U.S. Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison will be joined next year by coach Mary Joe Fernandez, who will take over as captain in 2009.

The U.S. Tennis Association announced the pairing of the former doubles partners on Monday. The U.S. will play Germany in the Fed Cup quarterfinals Feb. 2-3 at La Jolla, Calif.


"Fed Cup was one of the most important and memorable times of my career," said Fernandez, who played on the winning 1996 U.S. team.

The 36-year-old Fernandez helped the U.S. reach the finals in four of her six years on the Fed Cup team and finished with a 16-10 record (12-8 in singles).

She won Grand Slam doubles titles at the 1991 Australian Open and 1996 French Open. Fernandez, who finished with seven WTA Tour singles titles and 19 doubles titles, is a tennis commentator.

The Fed Cup matches will be at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. The U.S. leads with 17 Fed Cup titles, the last in 2000.

"I anticipate an exciting final year as captain in the hopes of bringing the Fed Cup home to the U.S.," said Garrison, the captain since 2004. "Mary Joe and I are looking forward to building a strong transition."

I think she is going to need a lot of help, because the top American women are getting older, and there isn't much promise coming for the younger crop. Well, aside from Calyndie from TTC.

 

[boredone3456]

I am glad to see Mary Joe taking over, hopefully she can breath new life into the women...once we get some younger talent that is. I mean, we cannot keep relying on fed cup stalwarts like Davenport, Raymond and the, not included with the other two, Williams sisters. Unless Mary joe can find some up and comers and whip them into shape, the US will fall out of the top group within the next 5 yrs, but thats just my opinion.

 

[shell]

I'm not sure the captain is the issue. There is not a hugh immediate talent pool that is ready, and I don't see a potential crop out there either. The US is in some trouble on the womens side. The USTA is slow to recognize this, and they are behind the ball now.

 

[naffi]

Is the position of Fed Cup coach really a "coach" at this point, or a "cheerleader?" Because I don't see Fernandez being intense. I don't see her able to help Davenport or Venus navigate her way through a tough match.

http://www.tenniswithattitude.blogspot.com

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=ap-fedcup-captain&prov=ap&type=lgns




I think she is going to need a lot of help, because the top American women are getting older, and there isn't much promise coming for the younger crop. Well, aside from Calyndie from TTC.

 

[CAM178]

Well, aside from Calyndie from TTC.

Makes me wonder if Fed Cup will use foam balls

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

I'm not sure the captain is the issue. There is not a hugh immediate talent pool that is ready, and I don't see a potential crop out there either. The US is in some trouble on the womens side. The USTA is slow to recognize this, and they are behind the ball now.

They have been behind the ball for some time now, honestly who was the last player to come out of the USTA system? Davenport? Raymond? :?