Fed Cup Drama: Final, 2014 World Groups Set

It was another dramatic weekend in Fed Cup, with a country coming from 2-0 down to reach the final and three live 5th rubbers across the ten World Group ties.  There was also some drama down in Europe/Africa Zonal Group II and rain delays around the world.

And it being Fed Cup, unlikely heros were born:  Ekaterina Makarova, Maria Irigoyen, Alize Cornet, Ashleigh Barty, and others.  This is something I enjoy about the competition.

World Group Semifinals

ITA 3 CZE 1:  Italy started strong by winning four sets on day 1, Errani and Vinci taking out Safarova and Kvitova.  Kvitova then saved the Czechs from a sweep by knocking off Errani before rained moved the last two rubbers to Monday.  Vinci the came out and clinched the tie and a spot in the final by defeating Safarova in 3 sets.

RUS 3 SVK 2:  The Slovaks came out on fire with wins on day 1 by Cibulkova and Hantuchova over Pavlyuchenkova and Kirilenko.  But in this battle of chokers, the Slovaks choked last:  Kirilenko kept Russia in it with a straight sets defeat of Hantuchova, and then Makarova came off the bench to win singles and doubles with Vesnina, both in 3 sets, to make the Russians just the 5th team to come back from 2-0 down in a World Group tie.  (They were also 4th team just two years ago against France.)

2013 Fed Cup Final:  Russia at Italy

World Group I Playoffs

GER 3 SRB 2:  For all her Fed Cup faults in the past, Ivanovic showed up for this one and won her two singles rubbers over Barthel and Kerber.  But Jovanovski, for all her Fed Cup prowess, lost both of hers and the tie went to the doubles.  Groenefeld/Lisicki defeated Dolonc/Krunic in straight sets and we are left wondering what would have happened if Ivanovic would have played doubles.

AUS 3 SUI 1:  Rain wreaked havoc on this tie, pushing play back until Monday and forcing two sets of simultaneous singles matches.  The two no. 1's Stosur and Oprandi won the first salvo, leaving the tie at 1-1 but then the Aussies chose Barty to play Voegele rather than Gajdosova.  It paid off as Stosur and the Aussie teen simultaneously won their singles matches to stay in the top World Group.

ESP 4 JPN 0:  Japan did not win a set in this tie, and Spanish was on fire from the beginning.  Suarez Navarro won two points for Spain including the clincher as Morita and Doi came up empty.

USA 3 SWE 1:  The tie got off to a rocky start for the overwhelming favorites when Arvidsson beat Stephens in the opening rubber.  But the Williams sisters won three straight singles matches, Venus subbing for Stephens to send the Swedes packing.

World Group II Playoffs

POL 4 BEL 1:  Flipkens made things a little interesting when she beat Urszula on day 1, but she had no support.  Aggie won her singles matches, in 3 sets over Flipkens on day 2, and then Urszula clinched with a win over van Uytvanck in the 4th rubber.  Where's Wickmayer when you need her?

FRA 4 KAZ 1:  Bartoli got the hosts off to a good start in her Fed Cup singles debut, losing just 3 games to Voskoboeva.  Shvedova countered by beating Cornet to knot the tie at 1-1.  But the French came through on day 2 with wins for Bartoli and Cornet over Shvedova and Pervak to keep them from falling the zones for the first time.

ARG 3 GBR 1:  Ormaechea played the lead role well for Argentina, who are very difficult to beat at the Parque Roca.  She beat Konta and then Robson in the 3rd rubber.  Robson beat Molinero on day 1 but Irigoyen came off the bench in the 4th rubber to clinch the tie over Baltacha.  Where's Watson when you need her?

CAN 3 UKR 2:  Another dramatic tie and battle between rising youngsters.  Svitolina got things off to a good start for the hosts by stunning Bouchard, but that was negated when Tsurenko lost to Fichman.  Svitolina and Bouchard got day 2 singles wins, then everyone got together for the doubles.  The Canadians won in straight sets so they'll join World Group II next year.

2014 World Group I:  Australia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, United States
2014 World Group II:  Argentina, Canada, France, Japan, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland

-Six countries remain in World Group I.  Germany and Spain earned promotion and both spent just one year in World Group II.
-Japan and Serbia were relegated to World Group II.  Japan spent just one year in World Group I, while Serbia was there for two, reaching the Fed Cup final last year.
-Four countries remain in World Group II.  Canada and Poland earned promotion from the zones.  Canada last competed in World Group II in 2011 while it was 2010 for Poland.
-Belgium and Ukraine were relegated to Europe/Africa Zonal Group I.  This means that group will have 17 countries in 2014, a large number.  Belgium hasn't played in zonal competition since 1995 while Ukraine was last there in 2007.

Speaking of Europe/Africa Zonal Group I, Tunisia and Latvia were promoted this past weekend during Group II play in Ulcinj, Montenegro.  Ons Jabeur (TUN) won all her singles matches during the week and they beat Lithuania in one of the group final in a matchup of two countries promoted from Group III last year.  Latvia got a great week from world no. 683 Jelena Ostapenko as they survived a final round battle with Kovinic and the local Montenegrins.  Ostapenko and Kovinic won singles matches in the final, so the tie came down the doubles where Latvia won in 3 sets.  In the relegation ties, South Africa avoided disaster by defeating Estonia, who played without Kanepi and Kontaveitt while Greece fell to Finland, so Estonia and Finland are relegated to Zonal Group III.

-Tunisia last competed at the Group I level back in 1994, and they have been promoted in back-to-back years.  Latvia was in Group I as recently in 2011, thanks to the play of Sevastova.
-Estonia played in a World Group I playoff round just 3 years ago, but now they have been relegated three straight years. They have never played in Group III before.  Greece last competed that low in 2009.