Fed Cup Is Hoping Serena Williams Plays

Written by: on 9th December 2013
Tennis China Open
Fed Cup Is Hoping Serena Williams Plays

epa03893630 Serena Williams of the US reacts after winning a point against Maria Kirilenko of Russia during their third round women's singles match in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 03 October 2013. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA  |

US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez is counting on Serena Williams to lead her team to the promise land in 2014, but while Williams can more or less be counted on to win every match she contests (she’s 13-0 in Fed Cup play), it will likely be the US’ No. 2 singles player who will determine whether the squad can win its first Fed Cup crown since 2000.

 

Fernandez has a number of young players at her disposal, including Sloane Stephens, who is the youngest player in the world top 12 at the age of 20. Stephens reached the second week of every major in 2013, but was inconsistent other weeks.

 

“ Sloane had an amazing year, especially at the majors,” Fernandez said. “Her consistency did falter a little bit the rest of the year during the regular tour season. But to me she still has so much upside and places to improve. You’re just seeing her develop into a complete player. She’s got all the tools, she has the weapons, and she’s got the speed. I think she’s got the desire now. She’s tasted a little bit of success.

 

She wants more. She’s been working with [coach] Paul Annacone the last few weeks. I think that’s going to be good for her.”

 

As Fernandez said, Stephens has a lot of tools, but she has been described as a bit immature off the court and she does have the tendency to go on walkabouts on court. That will have to change in 2014 if she is to meet her goal of being a being a top 5 player.

“ I think Sloane still gets a little bit confused about how she should play, constructing her points,” Fernandez said. “I think she relies on her speed and doesn’t play as aggressively as she could. She does it very well when she does.

 

So it’s just a matter of the big points, big moments, playing to her strengths. She has options. Sometimes that hurts you. You tend to fall back on what’s safe and secure, and to her that’s getting a lot of balls back and playing more defensively. I think now she’s more aware of when she wins why she wins. I think that’s something we’ll see more of in 2014, more consistency.”

 

Fernandez has two other players at her disposal inside the top 40, No. 28 Jamie Hampton and No. 38 Madison Keys, who is still a teenager. Another youngster, Christina McHale, has dropped out of the top 50 after a 2012 bout with mono and subsequent confidence problems during her comeback

 

Hampton has not played since the US Open due to a significant heel injury. Keys ground it out in Asia during the fall and while she grew tired the experience did toughen her up a bit.

 

“I thought Jamie had a bit of a breakthrough season, started to play more to her strengths, mentally got stronger,” Fernandez said. “ She’s just starting to get on the court and practice. Hopefully she’ll get to Australia, but we’ll see how she’s doing there. Madison, she’s a work in progress. She’s working really hard. I was speaking to [USTA coach] Ola Malmqvist yesterday. He told me how hard she’s been working out physically as well as on the court. I continue to believe that she’s going to keep rising in the rankings. She’s got the weapons. When she starts to use them the right way, be a little bit more consistent, I think she’s going to do a lot of damage. For Christina, it was a big breakthrough at the US Open, get her ranking back in the top 100. She played pretty strong. She played well in Quebec, getting to the semis there. With Christina, I’ve had her many times on Fed Cup. You know what you’re going to get. She works very hard. She’s committed. She’s dedicated. She’s the kind of player you love having on the team.” …I think we have 11 players in the top 100, which when I started I think we only had three. So there are more choices, for sure.”

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