Fed Cup 2014 - Europe/Africa Zone Group I

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Fed Cup 2014 - Europe/Africa Zone Group I

philwrig · Hall of fame

The more I look into this the more confused I get.

The ticket website says entry is free for all on Saturday, surely the busiest day.

And yet they are offering 6 day passes in addition.

Ticket prices are very cheap anyways.

paulisi · Tennis legend

I cannot remember the schedule, is it a Saturday or Sunday finish?

Will our girls be playing every day(assuming we don't get knocked out), if so from when.

philwrig · Hall of fame

The website says 4-8 Feb which would imply a Saturday finish and that would also be in line with all the recent years.
As Paul says there maybe matches on the Tuesday because of the 17 teams ( 16 normally) unlike in previous years, as there will be one group of 5, not sure if some in that group would have to play 2 matches in one day.

The GB team will play every day from Wednesday onwards if they are in the group of 4, there is no knockout as all teams will play on finals day on Saturday, the 1st stage being all round robin.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

My thinking was similar to everyone else - Tuesday start for the group of 5 plus Wed-Friday for the group matches and Saturday for the final (it was Sunday for GB in 2013 only because of rain). If it's any different then we will probably find out far too late to adjust travel plans!

I can't find the ticket site, so if someone could post a link that would be appreciated.

philwrig · Hall of fame

tony_orient wrote:
My thinking was similar to everyone else - Tuesday start for the group of 5 plus Wed-Friday for the group matches and Saturday for the final (it was Sunday for GB in 2013 only because of rain). If it's any different then we will probably find out far too late to adjust travel plans!

I can't find the ticket site, so if someone could post a link that would be appreciated.

Ticket site: http://www.huntennis.hu/fedcup2014/jegyek/?article_hid=14366

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

philwrig wrote:
tony_orient wrote:
My thinking was similar to everyone else - Tuesday start for the group of 5 plus Wed-Friday for the group matches and Saturday for the final (it was Sunday for GB in 2013 only because of rain). If it's any different then we will probably find out far too late to adjust travel plans!

I can't find the ticket site, so if someone could post a link that would be appreciated.
Ticket site: http://www.huntennis.hu/fedcup2014/jegyek/?article_hid=14366

Thanks.

The site indicates that the event is running for 6 days from Tuesday to Sunday, but I'm not sure how it could last that long. I might try and book a late flight back on Sunday just in case though.

Edit: Just realised that with a 5 team group, there can only be 2 matches per day with each team playing 4 days and having a day off. That means it will take 5 days to complete the 5 team group (compared to 3 days for the other groups). Having 17 teams just makes things awkward.

-- Edited by tony_orient on Thursday 19th of December 2013 10:33:59 AM

steven · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
The website says 4-8 Feb which would imply a Saturday finish and that would also be in line with all the recent years.
As Paul says there maybe matches on the Tuesday because of the 17 teams ( 16 normally) unlike in previous years, as there will be one group of 5, not sure if some in that group would have to play 2 matches in one day.

The GB team will play every day from Wednesday onwards if they are in the group of 4, there is no knockout as all teams will play on finals day on Saturday, the 1st stage being all round robin.

The Fed Cup site says 4-9 Feb, which makes sense given the 5-team group.

For what it's worth, last time there was a 17-team Group I (back in 2006), with D the 5-team group, they played:

Group A on days 1, 2 and 3
Groups B and C on days 2, 3 and 4
Group D on days 1-5
The playoffs on day 6

(to avoid confusion, I've numbered the days instead of naming them because back then, they played Mon-Sat instead of Tue-Sun)

If they do the same again, it'll mean one of the 4-team groups will get both Friday and Saturday off and only the 5-team group will play on Saturday.

Given that the penultimate day is Saturday rather than Friday this time, they may change that schedule a bit to make both weekend days big days. However, the oddity that you noticed of tickets being free on Saturday would be consistent with them having a similar schedule to 2006, i.e. nothing happening on Saturday except for a couple of ties in the 5-team group.

If they do stick to the 2006 schedule, it seems very spectator-unfriendly to those who might only be able to make it for the equivalent of a DC weekend (Fri-Sun) - while they might get to see their team play three times, it's more likely they will only see them play twice and possibly even just once.

-- Edited by steven on Thursday 19th of December 2013 12:16:02 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Thank you very much Steven, it was as clear as mud but now I'm definitely seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm sure the website had 4-8 originally and have now updated it.

Going back to 2006 was the key, great work. I think we're basically going have to wait for the draw, to find out which days GB will be playing, but at least I can now book a Monday flight instead of a Sunday one !

paulisi · Tennis legend

I'm struggling to find suitable flights from Manchester. I don't think i can get back on the Sunday......

indiana · Tennis legend

Would have liked to go. Fed Cup and never been to Budapest. But can't see it working out just now.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Would love to go but it's during term time.

Damn career change to teaching

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Fed Cup Teams starting to be announced today...

Austria: Yvonne Meusburger, Patricia Mayr-Achleitner, Tamira Pazcek & Sandra Klementschits
Belarus: Victoria Azarenka, Olga Govortsova, Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Ilona Kremen (strong side if Azarenka doesn't pull out)
Croatia: Donna Vekic, Petra Martic, Tereza Mrdeza and Darya Jurak (no Ana Konjuh despite her strong Fed Cup showing last year)

philwrig · Hall of fame

GB team : Robbo ( if fit ), Hev, JoKo, Tara .
No surprises, but we need the top 3 to be fit and in reasonable form.
Belgian team : very strong ( Flipper, Wickmayer, Van Uyt.., Mestach )

So Croatia have left out 2 strong players Konjuh/ Tom.

steven · Tennis legend

Indeed, no surprises, but a mini-milestone for Tara - the first time she has been selected for the GB Fed Cup team

(though obviously I hope she won't have to play a live rubber at this stage, because that's probably only going to happen if one of the other three is indisposed)