Fed Cup Week

A big congratulations to the Americans for advancing to the final of the Fed Cup, albeit against a Russian teaming with 9 of their top 10 injured or disinterested.  Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Liezel Huber showed they can win without the sisters Williams.  Also props to Dementieva for showing up and shame on Kuznetsova, Petrova, Zvonareva, Vesnina, etc, etc, etc, who refused to show.

The USA will meet Italy for the final.

The 2011 World Group will include USA, Italy, Russia, Czech Republic, France, Australia, Belgium, and Slovakia.  The former five are back in the world group while the latter three won advance from World Group II.

The 2011 World Group II will have Germany, Serbia, Ukraine, Estonia, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia, and Canada.  The first three were relegated from the world goup while the last three were promoted from zonal competition.

Countries relegated (or returned in Japan's case) to zonal competition were China, Japan, and Poland.

There were also two zonal groups in action last week:  Europe/Africa Zonal Group III and Americas Zonal Group II.

Mexico and Peru advanced from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Americas Zonal Group I.
Morocco and Turkey advanced from Cairo, Egypt to Europe/Africa Zonal Group II.

Also there was one zonal group in action in Davis Cup:  Asia/Pacific Zonal Group IV.

United Arab Emirates and Myanmar advanced from Amman, Jordan to Asia/Pacific Zonal Group III.

Two zonal groups will be playing this week:  Davis Cup Asia/Pacific Zonal Group III and Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zonal Group II.  This week will be the last Fed Cup action of the year with the exception of the final in November in the USA.

Also, props to Fernando Verdasco on his second title of the year, defeating Sodering in Barcelona.  And how about Thiemo de Bakker?