Fed Cup Preview

Another Fed Cup week is upon us and I couldn't resist posting my thoughts about it here.

World Group Semifinals

France at Czech Republic: The Czechs look very strong in this tie with Kvitova, Pliskova, Safarova, and Zahlavova Strycova.  It will be interesting to see who plays second singles behind the reigning Wimbledon champion with Safarova the veteran but Pliskova playing well against Canada earlier this year.  Although France pulled off a remarkable comeback against Italy on clay, this one will be much tougher for Cornet, Garcia, Mladenovic, and Parmentier.  I'm not sure they'll even get a foothold in this match, although the Italians are often as feisty in Fed Cup as the Czechs.  I think someone on the French side will pull an upset (and if it would go to the doubles I like Mladenovic since the Czechs don't have an obvious doubles team like they sometimes do) but the hosts are too strong and too deep here.  CZE 3 FRA 1

Germany at Russia: Sharapova couldn't get healthy so Russia is left with Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova with Vesnina and (for some odd reason) Zvonareva as reserves. (Not sure why Makarova has suddenly abandoned Fed Cup.)  Germany is at full strength with Petkovic, Kerber, Goerges, and Lisicki and I have the feeling this one could get ugly.  Russia needs Kuznetsova to get very hot but I've lost all faith in Pavlyuchenkova doing much with her career.  The Germans are in form (Kerber won in Charleston last week and Petkovic was in the semis) so I think they'll make a second consecutive final.  GER 3 RUS 1

World Group I Playoffs

United States at Italy: The Americans and Italians have tangled quite a bit in recently with Italy always emerging victorious.  This will be classic Fed Cup case of individual versus team, Serena versus Italy as the world no. 1 is backed up by Riske, McHale, and Davis, since Venus pulled out, and none of those is in particularly good form, save perhaps Davis after a nice run in Charleston.  Not sure where the other Americans are, or a doubles team, which could be their downfall.  There's even the slim chance Pennetta beats Serena and Giorgi is an in form player to come off the bench (or you could start her against Serena and bring Errani off the bench in the 4th rubber since the former French Open finalist has no chance against Serena).  I like Italy here whether it's in 4 or 5 rubbers because I can't the young Americans winning a rubber.  ITA 3 USA 2

Australia at Netherlands: The Dutch have massively punched above their weight in this competition for a couple years while the Aussies have often underwhelmed.  Stosur is not in form, nor Dellacqua or Gajdosova either so is this a recipe for another upset?  It wouldn't shock but I'm not going to go so far as predict.  I think Stosur can do enough and the Aussies are the better team.  Bertens, Hogenkamp, Rus, and Krajicek should be game though especially at home, and the doubles match might be a toss up.  This could be able a crazy back and forth tie but I can't pull the trigger on the upset.  AUS 3 NED 2

Switzerland at Poland: After the disaster against Russia, the Radwanska sisters have another home tie to redeem themselves and keep the Poles in the World Group.  The Swiss come in with the in form Bacsinszky but not with Bencic.  Also intriguing is Hingis if the tie were to go live to the doubles.  I don't know that Oprandi (or Golubic?) will be able to get a win, so the Aga/Bacsinszky tie looms large.  I think Radwanska can redeem herself and get this tough win to lead the Poles to victory, with her younger sister clinching in the 4th rubber, leaving Hingis on the sidelines.  POL 3 SUI 1

Romania at Canada: Halep, after years of devotion to Fed Cup, opts out of Romania's biggest tie in many years while Bouchard is back in the fold for Canada, giving us another classic individual versus team, although Bouchard is not in great form.  Begu and Dulgheru (or Mitu) are better players than Dabrowski and Fichman (and possibly Abanda) so I actually like Romania here.  There's a decent chance Bouchard loses a rubber, but if she doesn't Romania should win the doubles.  ROU 3 CAN 1

World Group II Playoffs

Paraguay at Serbia: If only Paraguay had gotten some unlucky soul to have to come to Paraguay...  Instead their at Serbia, and Ivanovic and Jankovic decide to actually show up for a Fed Cup tie together.  I'm a fan of underdogs and Cepede Royg and Gonzalez are decent players in South America, but this isn't South America, it's the world nos. 6 and 18, with Krunic as a capable back up. Hopefully they can enjoy the experience.  SRB 3 PAR 0

Sweden at Slovakia: For so many years you could count on Arvidsson and Larsson playing Fed Cup, and often winning (especially in the Europe zone).  But Arvidsson is fading with age and Larsson is a late pull out leaving Peterson and some unknown Swedes to battle the in form Schmiedlova plus Hantuchova and possibly Cepelova (now ranked outside the top 100).  I'm afraid this could be another blowout, although Peterson (only 19) has shown some future promise.  SVK 3 SWE 0

Belarus at Japan: The trip to Japan can often be tricky, sometimes because of who doesn't show up with the visitors, but this time the visitor's have their big gun, Azarenka, to go against Nara, Doi, Aoyama, and Morita.  Govortsova and Sasnovich have also proved capable backups for Belarus.  The question will be if the Japanese could beat Govortsova (or Sasnovich) twice and I'm not sure they can.  Japan would have a decent chance in the doubles with Aoyama, but I don't think it will get that far.  BLR 3 JPN 1

Spain at Argentina: Spain picked to poor time to not get the support of their top players Suarez Navarro and Muguruza, not to mention Torro-Flor.  This leaves Arruabarrena, Sorribes Tormo, Medina Garrigues, and the just pressed into action top junior Bolsova Zadoinov to battle the Argentines Ormaechea and Irigoyen in Buenos Aires, where the hosts are very tough outs.  Throw the rankings aside for Argentina, who even gave the US a mild scare in February when Serena couldn't go on Sunday, I think it's possible they'll dominate this tie.  The wild card here though in Sorribes Tormo, who had that nice run in Charleston for her WTA wins, but I'm sticking with the hosts.  ARG 3 ESP 1

Also going on is zonal group action in Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II and Europe/Africa Zonal Group III.

In Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II, being played in India, the hosts are through to the semis vs Turkmenistan while Indonesia plays the Philippines.  Only one country will advance to Group I next year, and it should be India being at home, the highest ranked player in the group, and Mirza available for doubles.  Teams not advancing:  Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pacific Oceania, Pakistan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

In Europe/Africa Zonal Group III, Wozniacki was in action in Montenegro, trying to get the Danes out of the lowest level of the competition.  The world no. 5 will need help from either Barbat or Grage to win their singles or help her win in doubles to fend off the Greeks with Daniilidou, not an easy task.  In the other promotion tie, Lithuania takes on Moldova.  The hosts Montenegro were without Kovinic (playing in Bogota) and they went 0-2.  Other teams failing to advance to the promotion ties were Algeria, Armenia, Cyprus, Iceland, Macedonia, Namibia, and Norway.