The Fed Cup is back tomorrow as eight nations will try to overthrow two-time defending champions Czech Republic. France (champions in 2003), Italy (four time winners since the turn of the century), Germany (champions in 1992) and Switzerland (amazingly no titles to their name) will all feel they have the players to take the crown this year, but first they must all navigate through complicated opening ties.
France Vs Italy
Venue: Palais des Sports de Marseille, Marseille, France
Just 374 kilometres separate Marseille, where this will tie take place, and Turin, the closest large Italian city to the border. So there will be probably be good backing for the Italians who will try to avenge defeat in this same round last year. The French have an overall 7-3 lead in head-to-head ties with their neighbours but all three of those Italian victories came between 2006 and 2009.
The tie will take place on a hard indoor court which has been rated as medium fast by the ITF. In theory this should favour the likes of Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia but if there’s one strength that characterizes Italian players, it’s their tenacity. Sara Errani and Camila Giorgi (who will presumably feature in the singles) will turn this one into marathon slog. Expect to see most rubbers, and the tie, go the distance.
“What happened in Genoa (Italy lost after taking a 2-0 lead) is behind us and forgotten. We start from scratch here“, said Italian captain Corrado Barazzutti.
Teams:
France: Kristina Mladenovic (No.30), Caroline Garcia (No.38), Pauline Parmentier (No.119) and Oceane Dodin (No.163).
Italy: Sara Errani (No.22), Camila Giorgi (No.40), Francesca Schiavone (No.115) and Martina Caregaro (No.257).
Germany Vs Switzerland
Venue: Leipziger Messe, Leipzig, Germany
Like the encounter between France and Italy, Germany and Switzerland also share a border although, in this case, the tie is taking place in the eastern city of Leipzig, which is more than a stones throw away from the Swiss border in the south-west.
This will be the sixth meeting between both nations, with Germany holding a 4-1 lead, although only one of those meetings took place with the united Germany we all know today, back in 2009. The hosts lost in the semi final round last year and, with recently crowned Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber leading a school of talented players, the feeling within the country is that a title is due soon. As for Switzerland, they’re back in the World Group after a nail-biting playoff win against Poland which was decided by a 9-7 third set win in the decisive rubber. Switzerland have one of the strongest and well-balanced teams in the competition with the promising Belinda Bencic and Timea Bacsinszky in the singles and the world’s best doubles player, Martina Hingis.
“This is a balancing act for all of us, but especially for Angie. It will be crucial to leave everyting behind on Saturday. Every match will be open and form on the day and team spirit will decide it”, stated German captain Barbara Rittner.
Teams:
Germany: Angelique Kerber (No.2), Andrea Petkovic (No.23), Annika Beck (N0.39) and Anna-Lena Groenefeld (doubles No.25).
Switzerland: Belinda Bencic (No.11), Timea Bacsinszky (No.15), Viktorija Golubic (doubles No.118) and Martina Hingis (doubles No.1).
