Fed Cup 2008

Sheddie · administrator

Fed Cup 2008

Sheddie · administrator

Nigel Sears, Great Britains Fed Cup Captain, today announced the squad for Great Britains Europe/Africa Zone Group I Fed Cup matches in Budapest, Hungary, week commencing 28th January.

The Great Britain squad will be:

- Anne Keothavong
- Elena Baltacha
- Naomi Cavaday
- Melanie South

16 year old Jocelyn Rae, one of Great Britains most promising junior players, will also be travelling with the squad to gain international experience.

Great Britain will compete against 14 other nations and teams will be drawn into four Round Robin pools. The winner of each pool will play-off to determine which two nations will be promoted to the World Group II Play-off in April 2008.

Nigel Sears, GB Fed Cup captain, said: I have selected a team that I believe has the best possible opportunity to succeed in Budapest. We have had some promising results on the international stage this year and I am confident that the team will perform well in Hungary. Fed Cup is becoming increasingly important as we strive to get more of our players competing in high level international events.

Sears added: Doubles is a crucial part of Fed Cup and although we are without a doubles specialist this year I feel that with the team I have selected we have a number of options in both singles and doubles. Fed Cup is a tough event and we will come up against world class players but I am looking forward to the challenge.

Sheddie · administrator

Tie will be on fast indoor carpet so will suit all 4 down to the ground

Big shock though with Katie not playing ! Surely if she'd made herself available, Nigel would have selected her, given her results on the grass this summer so I can only guess that she's instead opted to go for some wtas

wolf · Tennis legend

Competing Nations: Belarus, Bulgaria, Denmark, Georgia, Great Britain, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland.

We need to get out of this goddam level.

Sheddie · administrator

At least finally these ties wont be held on clay and on a surface which will suit the girls much more. I think this year we'll have the best chance of moving upwards since the 90s...the Fed Cup structure does make it so hard to get out of this level though, you have to come top of your group of 4 and then win another playoff match against another group winner (which usually has a top 100, sometime top 50 player !)

Serbia have and often use Jankovic and Ivanovic in these ties ! (though hopefully they'll be too tired from the AO to play this year).

Holland have Michaella Kraijcek (wta no 33 and wimbledon quarter-finalist) plus Brenda Schultz-MCarthy who used to be top 10

Hungary have world no 19 Ages Svavay and 2 others in top 150

Denmark has Wozniacki who was world junior no 1 and currently no 61 wta....but no one else in top 600 though

Bulgaria are also something of a 1-girl team with Pironkova (wta: 95)

However even with the teams who rely heavily on 1 player, you've still got to beat her either in the singles or the doubles rubber !

jamatthews · Strong Club Player

Sheddie wrote:

Bulgaria are also something of a 1-girl team with Pironkova (wta: 95)

And most likely a former RG quarter finalist... wink

Sheddie · administrator

Katie said that she just wasnt selected by Nigel ! strange stuff, Katie had beaten Mel twice indoors in the autumn aswell

PockyTastic · Futures level

I guess Mel was chosen for her doubles play? Her run in the mixed at Wimbledon was very impressive.

Sheddie · administrator

I'd guess so...aswell as the Wimbledon run last year, Mel also made 6 challenger finals, including the Surbiton title !

wolf · Tennis legend

When will the draw for this be made?

Sheddie · administrator

I'm not sure...I think it's usually the week before but I could be wrong

wolf · Tennis legend

I wish the BBC or someone would show this. I think i'll e-mail to them.

Jack · Intermediate Club Player

Katie replaces Injured Naomi.

http://www.lta.org.uk/Newsroom/GeneralNews/GeneralNews2008/080103KatieOBrienFedcup.htm?BSMGuid=ccab751f-8e9b-441f-8fda-4d778aac2139

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Wonder if she played Rolle injured or got the injury during that match?

Pleased for Katie OB. Unlucky not to make the initial squad as it said. Hopefully Anne K and Bally will still be first choice though.

steven · Tennis legend

It's really sad if Naomi can't now play AO qualifying ... unless she's still intending to play that but is sure she'll need to rest afterwards. Rumour had it that Katie was suffering from shingles, poor thing, so I wonder if that had anything to do with her not being in the original squad and not playing this week.