The Czech Republic have secured their first Fed Cup title since 1988 after doubles duo Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke won the deciding rubber to give them a 3-2 victory over Russia in Moscow on Sunday.
There isn't a more beautiful scene in sports than the Monte Carlo tournament, a panorama of orange clay set against the sparkling Mediterranean and handsomely appointed hillsides. And there's nothing more discouraging than the plight of America's Fed Cup team, now floundering among the relegated for the first time.
Belgian Kim Clijsters has been forced to pull out of the European nation's Fed Cup semifinal against Czech Republic with shoulder and wrist injuries.
We are pleased to announce that women's tennis scored a resounding 3-1 victory over football in the realm of weekend intrigue. The categories:
Defending champions Italy are through to the semifinals of the Fed Cup after a comfortable 4-1 quarterfinal victory over Australia in Hobart.
Two-time defending Fed Cup champions Italy battled back to level at 1-1 against Australia in Saturday's first-round tie in the women's tennis teams competition, while 2010 runners-up the United States went 2-0 behind against Belgium.
Former world No. 1 Venus Williams will miss the rest of the 2010 tennis season due to knee problems, meaning the American is ruled out of the Fed Cup final and the WTA Championships.
Lleyton Hewitt ended the Australian Open with surgery and was on crutches afterward, but he is back in action this week at Houston. Serena Williams won the Australian Open, but hasn't played a match since then, claiming she is injured. Maybe it is just me, but something does not seem right about this. --Aaron, Illinois
I enjoyed watching Mary Joe Fernandez as a player, I enjoy listening to her as a commentator, and I've enjoyed the success she's had as Fed Cup captain. What I would enjoy even more, however, is for her to say to the Williams sisters, "It's obvious you don't care enough about this competition to play, and that's your prerogative. But I, at least, am going to stop this silly and transparent charade about you wanting to and saying that you will, so you can appear patriotic, and then pulling out at the last minute. From this point on, Fed Cup is a Williams-free Zone." The team has done very well without the Williamses, and they are a joy to watch, because they all want to be there and enjoy being on the team together. --Chris F., Otsego, Minn.
Join us now for a weekend recap of the Fed Cup, a well-meaning event that has no sense of time. Grab some Tang, or perhaps that bottle of Rheingold you've been saving. Bring tools: a calculator, maybe an abacus, and above all, some common sense. It's really in short supply around here.
1. Cup chatter: The Fed Cup is not just what Roger wears when he plays hockey. It suffers the same scheduling issues as its brother, the Davis Cup, yet lacks the history and sponsorship. It's had a hard time attracting the top players and squeezing itself into a crowded calendar. But like a dogged counterpuncher, the Fed Cup keeps fighting. And it's done well for itself recently. The events last weekend -- occurring during a dead spot on the WTA schedule -- drew familiar names and generated some compelling matches. Despite the sudden absence of Justine Henin on account of a broken finger, the Belgium-Estonia throwdown (note the pains we go to, avoiding use the confusing phrase "tie") drew a capacity crowd in Hasselt. Thanks to the heroics of Daniela Hantuchova, the Slovak Republic upset Jelena Jankovic and Serbia. Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Liezel Huber joined forces to stage a gripping comeback/upset of a Russian side led by Elena Dementieva. Tracy Austin was in my
Andy Roddick has pulled out of the Rome Masters while Venus Williams' knee injury will prevent her from playing in the Fed Cup against Russia this weekend.
Four-time Fed Cup champions Russia edged Serbia 3-2 on Sunday to reach the semifinals of this year's competition where they will play the United States.
Italy secured a second Fed Cup women's tennis title in three years with a comfortable 4-0 win over the United States in Reggio Calabria.
Italy are in a strong position to claim the Fed Cup after building up a 2-0 lead over an under strength United States team in the final in Reggio Calabria.
Andy Murray charged into the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami with a 6-1 6-0 demolition of Serbian Victor Troicki in just 58 minutes.
As someone who covers a variety of other sports, how do think tennis players stack up as far as athletes? -- John, Hong Kong
World No. 3 Maria Sharapova has blasted the ruling body of women's tennis over its demands for top players ahead of this month's Italian Open in Rome.
Spain and Russia quickly wrapped up Fed Cup semifinal victories by taking winning 3-0 leads on Sunday.
Holders Russia and former champions Spain moved closer to a showdown in the Fed Cup final on Saturday after both took comfortable 2-0 overnight leads in their semifinal ties.
Russia will try to retain their grip on the Fed Cup when they take on the United States in the semifinals in Moscow this weekend.
It's Spring Break here in these parts, so a small Mailbag....
I realize that some people will immediately denounce this column as gender bashing, but they would be wrong. My analysis that Davis Cup in America is thriving and Fed Cup is dying is merely an objective look at the discrepancies and inequities of the two.
Maria Sharapova will not risk her shoulder injury to play for Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals against the United States later this month.
Lindsay Davenport and Ashley Harkleroad scored singles victories to defeat Germany on Monday to earn the U.S. women a Fed Cup semifinal showdown against holders Russia.
LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Australian summer has come to an end and the next stop for the women on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour early into 2008 is Federation Cup. Immediately, we're forced to shift gears from our individual mind set to the team concept.
Justine Henin most certainly is not the "worst flouter" of coaching "rules"[Oct. 3 Mailbag].There are several (many) WTA players ranked in the top 20 who interact far, far more with their coaches during matches. Have you seen Nadia Petrova, Nicole Vaidisova or even Svetlana Kuznetsova matches lately? -- Adam, Wiltshire, England
In the past few months, I've written numerous blogs about playing Fed Cup -- what it's like to play for your country, the passion that goes along with playing and how different it is than anything else we experience on tour.
Former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo has pulled out of this year's U.S. Open while she tries to recapture her best form after a season hit by injury and illness.
Whenever Russia vs. the U.S. is mentioned, some people can't help but think about a different time in a much different world. Rocky vs. Drago. The Miracle on Ice. The Cold War.
Defending champions Italy and France set up a Fed Cup last-four meeting with sweeping victories in their quarterfinals on Sunday.
Tathiana Garbin and Flavia Pennetta gave defending champions Italy a 2-0 lead over world-group debutantes China in their Fed Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.
Could there be a bigger honor for an athlete than representing her country in competition?
Make way for a woman's touch! Lisa Raymond is one of the most successful doubles players in the world. Over a 13-year pro career, the Philadelphia-area native has won 61 doubles titles, including a career Grand Slam. She and her current partner, Australian Samantha Stosur, are currently ranked No. 1 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Lisa will check in from time to time with SI.com to rap about her career, life on the tour and other tennis news and notes.
Newly crowned Australian Open champion Serena Williams will join her sister Venus in the United States' Fed Cup match against Belgium in April, U.S. captain Zina Garrison has announced.
The U.S. is hoping newly-crowned Australian Open champion Serena Williams will join her sister Venus in the team to meet Belgium in their Fed Cup quarterfinal in April.
Dinara Safina of Russia and Serbia's Ana Ivanovic remained on course for a semifinal showdown after both won their second round matches at the Australian women's hardcourt championships on the Gold Coast.
Russia's powerful line-up of Nikolay Davydenko, Marat Safin and Dmitry Tursunov, are considered the overwhelming favorites when they host Argentina in this weekend's Davis Cup final.
Justine Henin-Hardenne will be out for three weeks with a torn knee muscle which forced her to quit in the decisive match of the Fed Cup final.
Italy won the Fed Cup for the first time when Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne was forced to retire with a knee injury during the deciding doubles in Charleroi.
Italy's Francesca Schiavone powered past Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-3 to take the opening match of this weeekend's Fed Cup final in Charleroi on Saturday.
French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne heads Belgium's team for the Fed Cup final against Italy in Charleroi on September 16-17.
World number three Justine Henin-Hardenne will play at the U.S. Open and could return to action in New Haven next week following a six-week absence.
The Fed Cup final between Belgium and Italy will take place in Charleroi, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have said.
U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters is looking to repeat last year's success on hard courts when she begins the defense of her Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, title this week.
Wins for Kim Clijsters and Kerstin Flipkens gave Belgium a commanding 2-0 lead over the United States in their Fed Cup semifinal.
Justine Henin-Hardenne's replacement Kirsten Flipkens will open Belgium's bid to reach the Fed Cup final against American Jill Craybas in Ostend on Saturday.
Kim Clisters and Justine Henin-Hardenne boosted Belgium's chances of winning a second Fed Cup when they were named in the squad for the semifinal against a weakened United States.
Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is almost certain to miss the United States' Fed Cup semifinal against Belgium next month.
Fourth seed Maria Sharapova saved three match points as she fought back from 5-2 down in the final set to beat American Mashona Washington 6-2 5-7 7-5 in the first round of the French Open.
Belgium will meet the United States in the Fed Cup semifinals following victories by Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne over last year's champions Russia.
Francesca Schiavone saved a match point as she beat world number one Amelie Mauresmo 4-6 7-6 6-4 to give Italy a 2-1 lead over France in their Fed Cup first round tie in Nancy on Sunday.
Spain and the United States are within touching distance of reaching the Fed Cup semifinals.
World number one Roger Federer cruised into the Monte Carlo Open quarterfinals on Thursday, ending the adventure of hometown qualifier Benjamin Balleret 6-3 6-2.
Russia could not have a harder start to the defense of their Fed Cup title than this weekend's tie in Liege against a Belgian team featuring Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne.
France's Tatiana Golovin will be out of action for six weeks because of torn ankle ligaments.
Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova will lead champions Russia in next month's first round Fed Cup tie against Belgium.
Maria Sharapova and Anastasia Myskina will skip Russia's Fed Cup tie with Belgium next month.
Maria Sharapova was ousted from the Kremlin Cup quarterfinals by Dinara Safina 1-6 6-4 7-5 in a battle of Russian teenagers.
Second seed Amelie Mauresmo has made an ignominious exit from the Kremlin Cup at the hands of Italy's Francesca Schiavone.
World number one Maria Sharapova has said she wants to play for Russia in the Fed Cup at some point in the future.
Second seed Nadia Petrova strolled into the Luxembourg Open quarterfinals with a 6-3 6-1 win over Czech Kveta Peschke.
Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic overcame Russian pair Igor Andreev and Dmitriy Tursonov 6-2 4-6 7-6 3-6 6-4 on Saturday to edge their country nearer a first appearance in the Davis Cup final.
Russia beat France 3-2 in a thrilling Fed Cup final thanks to a tireless double shift from Elena Dementieva at Roland Garros on Sunday.
Amelie Mauresmo held her nerve to comfortably beat Anastasia Myskina 6-4 6-2 and level the Fed Cup final with Russia at 1-1 after the opening singles.
France's Mary Pierce, who beat Elena Dementieva in controversial fashion at the U.S. Open last week, will face the Russian again in the opening singles of the Fed Cup final at Roland Garros.
Former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina will lead holders Russia in the Fed Cup final against France, captain Shamil Tarpishchev has said.
Venus Williams will aim to give the U.S. a dream start in their Fed Cup semi-final against holders Russia on Saturday.
Fed Cup champions Russia have handed a debut to Dinara Safina, sister of Australian Open champion Marat Safin, for this weekend's tie with Italy.
Serena Williams is expected to recover from an ankle injury to join Lindsay Davenport in the singles when the United States take on Belgium in the Fed Cup quarter-finals later this month.
World number three Amelie Mauresmo has been named in the France team to face Austria in their Fed Cup first-round tie later this month.
Former Davis Cup-winning player John Alexander has been appointed Australia's Fed Cup captain, replacing Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King has retired as coach of the U.S. Fed Cup team, completing a transition that leaves Zina Garrison in charge of the 2005 squad.
French Open champion Anastasia Myskina came to the rescue of home favorites Russia as they won the deciding doubles to clinch the Fed Cup crown by three rubbers to two against France in Moscow.
Anastasia Myskina kept Russia's Fed Cup final hopes alive by beating Moscow-born Tatiana Golovin 6-4 7-6 in the second singles against holders France, to level the scores at 1-1.
France and Russia secured two singles victories apiece in their Fed Cup semifinals against Spain and Austria on Wednesday to edge closer to a final showdown.
Mary Pierce has pulled out of France's defence of their Fed Cup title with a shoulder injury, increasing Russia's chances of taking their first crown.
Venus Williams came through a stiff test against Serbian schoolgirl Ana Ivanovic to book her place in the Zurich Challenge quarterfinals.
Austria want to host the Fed Cup Final Four tournament, national tennis officials said Tuesday, after the country's sensational upset of the United States.
Barbara Schwartz produced a heroic 7-6 4-6 10-8 win over Lisa Raymond as Austria beat the U.S. in the Fed Cup for the second time in three years.
Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce gave holders France a 2-0 lead over Italy in their Federation Cup quarterfinal in Rimini.
Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kuznetsova won the opening singles to give favorites Russia a 2-0 lead over Australia in their Fed Cup World Group first-round tie in Moscow.
Serena and Venus Williams join forces as part of a USA "dream team" for their Fed Cup tie in Slovenia next month.
Second seed Nadia Petrova advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian women's hardcourt championships with a 6-2 6-2 win over Australia's Nicole Pratt.
Loading weather data ...
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|