Fed Cup Preview

Fed Cup play is underway as of today in of the some of the zonal group where they are playing round robin style in pools.  We'll get to those later, but first a focus on the World Groups, which will be played out Saturday and Sunday to set our semifinals and playoffs.

World Group I

Australia at Czech Republic: Kvitova has not been in good form but she has always been a good Fed Cup player and this will be indoors.  Australia is not as deep (Stosur and Gajdosova) and since Safarova is improving, I'm expecting a fairly easy Czech win.  CZE 3 AUS 1

United States at Italy:  The Americans are without the Williams sisters and Stephens also had to pull out with an injury, so it will be tough going for Lepchenko and Hampton.  Italy didn't nomiate Schiavone or Pennetta but Errani and Vinci are the forefront of Italian tennis now anyway so it shouldn't matter.  ITA 3 USA 1

Japan at Russia:  Russia is playing without Sharapova or Petrova but still have a solid team with in form players in Kirilenko, Makarova, Pavlyuchenkova, and Vesnina.  It's going to a tough ask for Japan to pull an upset here with Morita and Date-Krumm their best players.  Somehow I think they'll manage to get on the board.  RUS 3 JPN 1

Slovakia at Serbia:  The most evenly matched tie of the top World Group with Cibulkova and Hantuchova challenging Ivanovic and Jankovic.  But in the past these are the matches Serbia tends to win with great play from Jankovic and the matches Slovakia tends to choke away (see 2011 for instance).  SRB 3 SVK 1

World Group II

Belgium at Switzerland:  The Belgians are a rising duo and in form with Wickmayer and Flipkens hitting the road against a Swiss team that occasionally puts up a fight and now has transfer from Italy Oprandi alongside Voegele and Bacsinszky.  I wouldn't be shocked to see this get to the doubles but I'll say BEL 3 SUI 1

Sweden at Argentina:  Rarely do top players come to Argentina but the Swedes are at full strength with Arvidsson and Larsson.  Dulko has retired so the home side counters with Ormaechea, Irigoyen, and Molinero.  I don't expect a close tie.  SWE 3 ARG 0

Ukraine at Spain:  In Ukraine I would expect a home romp, but on Spanish clay perhaps we get a nice tie.  Spain is without Medina Garrigues and Suarez Navarro so they'll only got a so-so team (Dominguez Lino, Soler Espinosa, Torro-Flor, and Llagostera Vives) to counter the rising Ukrainians Tsurenko and Svitolina who tend to save their best for Fed Cup.  But the one thing the Spanish do have is a doubles team and I think that will see them through.  ESP 3 UKR 2

Germany at France:  Bartoli is playing Fed Cup (finally) and Kerber is out with injury so the home side will have a chance.  Mladenovic is in good form from Paris and Cornet is there too to battle with Goerges and Lisicki.  I say this gets to the doubles where Germany will have an edge, bringing in Groenefeld.  GER 3 FRA 2

Europe/Africa Zonal Group I  (Eilat, Israel) - Georgia and Turkey promoted last year

Pool A: Austria, Belarus, Croatia, Georgia
This is a wide open pool without many names since Azarenka isn't playing.  Also I don't see Tatishvili or Govortsova.  The pool probably comes down to Austria with their veterans (Meusburger and Mayr-Achleitner) and Croatia with their rising star Vekic.  Winner: CRO Loser: BLR

Pool B: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Great Britain, Hungary, Portugal
This pool is all about the Brits with Robson and Watson though Hungary with Babos and Arn might have a say.  Portugal is not fielding their best team though they have Larcher de Brito so they should be able to escape the bottom.  Winner: GBR Loser: BIH

Pool C: Israel, Poland, Romania, Turkey
The pool of death.  The home team with Peer, the top 30 sisters, and the deepest team in the group.  Poor Turkey is all I can say.  It looks like Romania has just a so-so team though with Cirstea and some lower ranked players so they Radwanskas ought to be able to advance.  Winner: POL Loser: TUR

Pool D: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia
Hercog is notably absent from this pool but Pironkova is here as well as the deep Dutch team with Bertens and Rus.  That should be enough of a 1-2 punch to get through easily.
Winner: NED Loser: SLO

Promotion ties: POL def. CRO, GBR def. NED
Relegation ties: TUR def. BLR (c'mon Azarenka...), SLO def. BIH

Americas Zonal Group I (Medellin, Colombia) - Chile and Mexico promoted last year
This is often a competitive group of teams battling for just one spot in the World Group II playoffs.  This year Argentina is absent because they were promoted so someone has a chance.

Pool A: Canada, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
It is always tricky for Canada to fly south and play on clay and will up to Dubois, Bouchard, and Fichman to challenge the Colombians Duque-Marino and Castano who often end up in the group final.  Peru is without Botto so they shouldn't challenge much.  Order: COL, CAN, VEN, PER

Pool B: Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay
This probably comes down to the match between Brazil and Paraguay as the latter has the rising star Cepede Royg and the former has some decent players too.  I've heard Mexico has some rising talent too but we shall see.  Order: PAR, BRA, MEX, CHI

Promotion tie:  COL def. PAR
Relegation ties:  MEX def. PER, VEN def. CHI

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I (Astana, Kazakhstan) - India promoted last year

Pool A: India, Kazakhstan, Thailand
There is some talent here, especially for the home team with Shvedova, Pervak, Voskoboeva, and Karantancheva.  Thailand has two women who won matches in Pattaya last week (Kumkhum and Wongteanchai) but India doesn't have Mirza.  But I expect the home courts and the depth should see Kazakhstan through.  Winner: KAZ  Loser: IND

Pool B: China, South Korea, Taiwan, Uzbekistan
Again China nominates their B (or maybe C) team with Zhang and S.Zheng but Taiwan doesn't have Hsieh either which along with the Uzbeks and Amanmuradova this could be a competitive group.  I still think China has enough though to get through.  Winner: CHN  Loser: KOR

Promotion tie:  KAZ def. CHN
Relegation tie:  IND def. KOR

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II (Astana, Kazakhstan) - Indonesia relegated last year

Pool A: Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Turkmenistan, Vietnam
Pool B: Indonesia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines

New Zealand was the favorite to get a promotion but then Erakovic pulled out with a thumb injury.  I won't pretend to know enough about these teams to hazard a guess.  Because of the big groups though, they started on Monday and Hong Kong and Indonesia are leading the groups.

Enjoy the World Group tennis this weekend and see if you can tune in and take a little pleasure in the lower levels as well in the meantime.