Today’s Women’s News (4/16) – Fed Cup

Written by: Staff on 16th April 2013

Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne

Today's Women's News (4/16) - Fed Cup

epa03640477 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia returns the ball to Serena Williams of the USA during their fourth round match at the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, USA, 25 March 2013. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Fed Cup

Women were travelling to Fed Cup venues around the world for the weekend World Group semi-finals, World Group play-offs and World Group II play-offs.

Italy was looking particularly strong after Roberta Vinci upset potential weekend opponent Petra Kvitova to win the new Katowice event in Poland. That title match could have been a confidence-building tune-up for Vinci, who moved up to 12th in the WTA rankings.

Italy’s Vinci, 30, winner of two Grand Slam doubles crowns in 2012 as well as the Australian Open in January, lifted her eight career singles title with her win – her fifth trophy on clay. She now stands 8-1 in WTA finals after achieving her ninth victory over a Top 10 player.

“I played a really good game. Petra was playing very well and very aggressively in the first set, getting a lot of first serves in, but I stayed with her and won the tie-break,” said Vinci. “Things were better in the second set, probably because she was a little bit tired. But everything was working for me all week. I’m happy I was able to beat such a tough opponent and win this title.”

In the other semi, Russia faces the Slovak Republic in Moscow with the hosts fielding Maria Kirilenko on pole position while the visitors will reply on pocket rocket Dominika Cibulkova and Daniela Hantuchova.