Fed Cup Final Set, 2013 Groups Ready

The final is set for Fed Cup, and the defending champion Czechs will defend their title against Serbia, who had never before reached a Fed Cup semi.  It is hard to predict much from 7 months out but I'm expected another great tie with Serbia's two decent players at the Czech Republic's one star.  The final will be played in the Czech Republic

World Group I Semifinals


SRB 3 RUS 2 - Kirilenko ended up being injured so Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova were the Russian singles players.  The latter played as well as she has in months but still came up on the short end against Jankovic and Ivanovic.  Kuznetsova brought Russia level after the first day with a win over Ivanovic but couldn't beat Jankovic on day 2 to force the tie to the doubles.  Jankovic really has an incredible Fed Cup singles record.

CZE 4 ITA 1 - I said that all the Czechs would need is one win from Safarova to win the tie.  They got it in the opening rubber when she upset Schiavone.  Two Kvitova wins later over Errani and Schiavone and the Czechs had clinched.

World Group I Playoffs


USA 5 UKR 0 - Serena and McHale both delivered for the USA on day 1, and Serena clinched over a player ranked 100 places lower in the rankings, Tsurenko.

JPN 4 BEL 1 - This was another sweep as Morita got two wins for Japan and the young Belgians.  Date Krumm added a victory on day 1.

SVK 3 ESP 2 - Soler-Espinosa upset Hantuchova on day 1 to give the Spaniards some hope, but Cibulkova won 2 rubbers then Hantuchova overcame a first set bagel to clinch the tie over Dominguez Lino 8-6 in the 3rd.

AUS 3 GER 2 - The Aussies behind Stosur and Gajdosova embarressed the Germans at home and swept them in 6 sets.  Goerges, Kerber, and Petkovic all lost live rubbers in straight sets.

World Group II Playoffs


FRA 5 SLO 0 - Hercog wasn't able to go for Slovenia, so France prevailed.  Parmentier won 2 rubbers including a 8-6 in the 3rd win over Rampre.

SUI 4 BLR 1 - Govortsova gave Belarus hope by winning her opening rubber but Voegele and Bacsinszky proved too strong in the end for a Belarussian squad playing without Azarenka.

SWE 4 GBR 1 - The experienced Swedes were able to sweep the British aside as Larsson and Arvidsson got wins over Baltacha, Keothavong, and Robson.

ARG 3 CHN 1 - This also was a sweep after China showed up in South American with their C-team.  Ormaechea won two live rubbers for the Argentines.

Zonal Groups


Georgia and Turkey will compete in Europe/Africa Zonal Group I next year.  Georgia's Tatishvili was the only top 100 player participating in this group.  South Africa and Montenegro were the final losers. Denmark and Norway were relegated (poor Wozniacki, but she didn't play so you can't feel too sorry) to Group III for next year.  Norway should have participated at that level this year but Fed Cup brought them up to make 8 teams.  Latvia and Finland dodged relegation.  Denmark and Latvia were relegated to this group from Group I last year while South Africa and Montenegro were both promoted from Group III.

Taking Denmark and Norway's place in Group II will be Tunisia (Ons Jabeur) and Lithuania.  They beat Morocco and Ireland in the final.  Morocco and Armenia were relegated from Group II last year but couldn't get back up.

In the Americas Zone, Chile and Mexico will make an immediate return to Group I.  They defeated Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago in the finals.

(Also of note here was the Davis Cup Asia/Pacific Zonal Group IV.  Cambodia was promoted to Group III in their Davis Cup debut while United Arab Emirates makes an immediate return after being demoted last year.  Fellow demotee Myanmar was not as fortunate and lost all their ties in round robin play.  Qatar and Turkmenistan were the final losers.  Asia/Pacific Zonal Group III will be contested this coming week.)

Fed Cup is now complete for the 2012 season, with the exception of the final.  Here are the groups for the 2013 season.  The draw will take place on June 6th during the French Open.

World Group I
Australia, Czech Republic*, Italy*, Japan, Russia*, Serbia*, Slovakia, United States

World Group II
Argentina^, Belgium*, France, Germany*, Spain*, Sweden^, Switzerland, Ukraine*

* Teams competed at World Group I this year.  ^ Teams promoted from zones this year.

AUS, SVK, and USA return to World Group I after one-year absences. JPN hadn't competed there since 2007.  ESP, GER, and UKR return to World Group II after just one year in World Group I.  BEL last played there in 2012.  SWE had just one year in zonal competition.  ARG was last in World Group II in 2010.

For all zone groups, * promoted this year, ^ relegated this year.


Europe/Africa Zonal Group I
Austria, Belarus^, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia*, Great Britain, Hungary, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia^, Turkey*

Europe/Africa Zonal Group II
Estonia^, Finland, Greece^, Latvia, Lithuania*, Montenegro, South Africa, Tunisia*

Europe/Africa Zonal Group III
Armenia, Cyprus, Denmark^, Egypt, Ireland, Kenya, Malta, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Norway^

BLR escaped the zones for only one year.  SLO last played here in 2010.  GEO last played in Group I in 2008, TUR in 2002.  EST last played in Group II in 2008, GRE in 2010.  LTU last played in Group II in 2008, TUN in 2005.  As mentioned earlier, NOR played in Group III last year, but DEN has never been this low.

Americas Zonal Group I
Brazil, Canada, Chile*, Colombia, Mexico*, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela

Americas Zonal Group II
Bahamas^, Bolivia^, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay

CHI and MEX both make an immediate return to Group I.  BAH escaped Group II for only one year, while BOL last played there in 2009.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I
China, India*, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II
Hong Kong, Indonesia^, Iran, Krygyzstan, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan

INA and IND swap places for the second consecutive year.

Hopefully there's someone else out there that likes this kind of analysis, but I do, so I'll put it out there anyway.  :-)