Archive for the 'Fed Cup' Category

The Fed Cup kicks off this weekend in Florida at the Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center and the US team looks very strong. In fact, many say the American team should win with ease. Belgium’s two best players, number one ranked Justine Henin and number four ranked Kim Clijsters won’t be playing and the dynamic Williams sisters are gunning for action.

“I love playing Fed Cup,” said Serena Williams. “I like playing for your country. You’re playing in a team environment. It presents something different for us and that’s really cool.”

The US team includes Venus and Serena Williams as well as doubles pro Lisa Raymond and rising star Vania King. The Belgian team is Kirsten Flipkens, Caroline Maes, Yanina Wickmayer, and Tamaryn Hendler. Hopefully America can exact revenge on Belgium for beating us in last year’s Fed Cup semifinals. The winners of the semifinal round will face either Russia or Spain in the next round this July.

United States Fed Cup Captain Zina Garrison today announced that Lisa Raymond, world No. 1 doubles player, and Vania King, the youngest American ranked in the top 100, will join Serena and Venus Williams on the US team for 2007. America faces Belgium in the quarterfinals round at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Florida on April 21 and 22.

“Vania is a hard-working, young competitor with a lot of heart and Lisa gives us strength in doubles,” said Garrison. “With both Venus and Serena Williams and a home crowd, we look forward to a competitive and, hopefully, a successful match for the US.”

Tickets for this two-day, best-of-five-match series are on sale now, call 888-334-USTA (8782). Tickets are sold as a two-day series or as individual events; prices range from $25 to $225. The Tennis Channel will show live coverage every day at 2:30 p.m. ET.

If you’d like to attend the Davis Cup or Fed Cup quarterfinals–both being held here in the US–we list the details for tickets.

The United States hosts Spain in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup April 6-8 at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This round will be played indoors on a hard-court surface, the circumstances seem conducive to the power game the American team is playing. Tickets go on sale to the general public next Monday, February 19 at 10 a.m. USTA members have the opportunity for advance purchase beginning Thursday, February 15. Now may be a good time to consider that USTA membership if you want to see Roddick, Blake, and the Bryan Bros take on Nadal et al. For information call (888) 484-8782 or visit the USTA site.

The dynamic Williams duo faces off against the best of Belgium in the Fed Cup quarterfinals at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Florida on April 21-22. Maybe we’ll even get a glimpse of Clijsters or Henin, should their strenuous schedules allow time to squeeze in a world class tennis tournament. Tickets for this best-of-five series are being sold as a two-day series only and prices range from $35 to $225. To buy tickets now, call (888) 334-8782.

It’s official–Australian Open champion Serena Williams will join her sister Venus on this year’s American Fed Cup team. The Williams sisters will play in the quarterfinals against Belgium scheduled for April.

Fed Cup Team Captain Zina Garrison announced to tennis fans today: “We are thrilled to have Serena back on the US Fed Cup team, especially after her tremendous victory at the Australian Open. The last time both Serena and Venus were on the court for a US Fed Cup team was 2003, so it will be an exciting time to see the sisters together again.”

Venus and Serena joined forces in 1999 to win the Fed Cup honors for the US; their combined Fed Cup record is an impressive 19-3. Garrison has until ten days prior to the quarterfinals to designate the two women that will complete the 2007 US Fed Cup tennis team.

The United States meets Belgium in the first round of play for the Fed Cup on April 21-22 in Florida at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. US Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison picked Venus Williams to lead the US against Belgium and hopes to persuade her sister (and Australian Open champion) Serena to join the team as well. Other possibles include Vania King, Ashley Harkleroad, and doubles expert Lisa Raymond.

The US may have an easy first round of it as neither of Belgium’s two top female players will be able to make this year’s Fed Cup. Both world number two Justine Henin and world number four Kim Clijsters have pulled out of the competition; each blames a heavy schedule for her withdrawal. Belgium’s third best player, Kirsten Flipkens, is currently ranked 104th.