Fed Cup 2015 - Europe/Africa Zone Group I

PaulM · Tennis legend

Fed Cup 2015 - Europe/Africa Zone Group I

philwrig · Hall of fame

No Babos shocker, no Flipkens surprising, Lucic picked shocker, doubt Azarenka will play, Serbia not picking their big two probably not a big surprise.

So gutting that we don't have our top 2 both fit and healthy as we would cruise through, still not without chances if we can win 1 singles and the doubles.

PaulM · Tennis legend

We get Ukraine, Turkey and Liechtenstein.

Ukraine is tough, think we will struggle with that one unless Jo is in form and can take out Tsurenko, giving us a chance in the doubles (I rate Svitolina quite highly and think she would be heavy favourite against Heather). Shame we didn't get Portugal then it would be as soft as it could have been!

We'd play the winner of Group C if we do manage to win our group - Belarus, Portugal, Bulgaria, Georgia.

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:21:23 AM

steven · Tennis legend

Great Britain have been drawn in Group B with:

Ukraine (Svitolina WR 28, Tsurenko WR 88, Kozlova WR 140, Savchuk WR 223)
Turkey (Buyukakcay WR 136, Ozgen WR 256, Soylu WR 303, Eraydin WR 527)
Liechtenstein (Vogt WR 170, von Deichmann WR 323, Zund UNR, Hinterberger UNR)

The winners of this group will play the winners of Group C, which contains Belarus, Portugal, Bulgaria and Georgia.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Ukraine will be a tough match but it's certainly a much easier group than last year.

If Azarenka plays, a final match against Belarus would be even more difficult.

steven · Tennis legend

Just two relevant H2Hs, making the probably dodgy assumption that the top two players named in each team will play:

Hev 1-0 v Buyukakcay - 6-2 6-7(7) 6-2 in Shrewsbury in 2010
JoKo 0-1 v Tsurenko, who won 6-4 1-6 7-5 in Brisbane in 2013

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Well Hev has just beaten the World No. 29 so beating No. 28 Svitolina should only be a small step up from today!

paulisi · Tennis legend

What date is this scheduled for?

Ukraine might be awkward, but I would expect us to come through if Joko is in any sort of form and we should get through the other fixtures. Belarus would surely be about who won the doubles.

indiana · Tennis legend

It certainly does look like being a shootout between GB and Ukraine to top the group.

Good to see Heather and Jo getting wins earlier today.

I hope all is well with Joss and Anna, they ended last season fairly early and don't seem to have been seen yet this year. Since they have been picked, they must be basically fit if a bit lacking in recent matches.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Yeah I'm slightly concerned that Smith/Rae won't have played any competitive tennis before Fed Cup, they aren't making the trip to Oz and there is nothing for them to play beforehand. If the Ukraine tie goes to doubles, Savchuk and partner (Svitolina surely) will have several matches under the belt in 2015.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Agreed its better than last year, NOT DIFFICULT. Ukraine will be tough the young Svitolini is a major improving talent who has just reached the semis in Brisbane, and Tsurenko plays well at Fed Cup. The doubles pairing is also stronger than ours given we have had no prep there. So we will be underdogs for all 3 rubbers, but not without chances. Ukraine were also close to promotion last year, Svitolini having an epic match with Halep.

Regarding Turkey the Cag girl shouldn't be underestimated as she is improving and in form, but we should win that one and we will beat Liecht.

As for a potential playoff match with Belarus, I'll be shocked if Azarenka plays here.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Azarenka was in the Belarus squad the year the Fed Cup was in Portugal wasn't it? We were in their group and she only turned up for one match I think. She did play every tie in 2011 though.

It might depend on how Oz goes for her - she may feel she needs the matches, or she might just want to get over the States (she's not down for Dubai, and so presumably isn't planning on playing Doha either).

You making the trip Phil?

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 9th of January 2015 03:09:14 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

PaulM wrote:
Azarenka was in the Belarus squad the year the Fed Cup was in Portugal wasn't it? We were in their group and she only turned up for one match I think. She did play every tie in 2011 though.

It might depend on how Oz goes for her - she may feel she needs the matches, or she might just want to get over the States (she's not down for Dubai, and so presumably isn't planning on playing Doha either).
You making the trip Phil?

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 9th of January 2015 03:09:14 PM

Yet to be decided, air fares are quite cheap at the moment. It's probably 60/40 at the moment.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Well i think we should win 2. Ukraine will be tough. They usually end up with a weaker team but the time the event comes round

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

If Svitolina plays, sorry to say I think it 90% likely she would win both singles, no matter who we field.
Unfortunately, she is very patriotic, has never missed a tie, and even asked her kit manufacturer to create her normal tour kit in the Ukrainian colours.
So, she'll almost definitely play if fit.

Edit: is that the format? If she only gets to play one singles against us, then we stand a chance.

2nd Edit: Oh! She only gets the one singles. The doubles will be crucial then, as Elina is no great shakes at doubles.

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Friday 9th of January 2015 06:55:08 PM