TENNIS NEWS FROM FED CUP TENNIS: ITALY DEFEATS THE UNITED STATES 3-2, SERBIA, BELARUS, THE NETHERLANDS & SPAIN ALL WIN

Written by: Staff on 19th April 2015

TENNIS NEWS FROM FED CUP TENNIS: ITALY DEFEATS THE UNITED STATES 3-2, SERBIA, BELARUS, THE NETHERLANDS & SPAIN ALL WIN |

Pumped to score a huge win for her team! #FedCup #Serena @serenawilliams #USFedCupteam – photo by @ustennis

United States vs. Italy

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas

2015 World Group Playoff

Circolo Tennis Brindisi

Brindisi, Italy * April 18-19

FED CUP WRAP

The U.S. Fed Cup Team found itself in the fifth-and-decisive doubles rubber for the tenth time today in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Playoff held at Circolo Tennis Brindisi in Brindisi, Italy. The U.S. Fed Cup Team also came down to the decisive doubles match in last year’s World Group Playoff against France in St. Louis, with France winning the tie. This time, it was the same result, as Italy defeated the U.S., 3-2.

In the first match of the day, world No. 1 Serena Williams and Italy’s No. 1 player Sara Errani battled two hours and 25 minutes on the clay, with Williams winning, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3. This was Williams’ first three-set Fed Cup singles match since the 2012 World Group II First Round against Belarus’ Anastasia Yakimova in Worcester, Mass. Williams is now 13-0 in Fed Cup singles play and 8-0 against Errani.

Both the U.S. and Italy Fed Cup Teams substituted players for the fourth singles rubber, putting Christina McHale against Brindisi native Flavia Pennetta (Lauren Davis and Camila Giorgi were originally named to play). In just under an hour, Pennetta defeated McHale, 6-1, 6-1. McHale and Pennetta had previously met twice on the WTA Tour (2010 Tokyo and 2014 Beijing), with Pennetta winning both matches. McHale is now 4-5 in Fed Cup singles matches.

In the fifth-and-decisive doubles match, Williams and Alison Riske faced off against Errani and Pennetta with Italy clinching the tie, 6-0, 6-3. Williams and Riske had never played doubles together, while Errani and Pennetta are both ranked in the Top 20 in doubles. This was Williams’ first loss in Fed Cup (singles and doubles) and now holds a 17-1 overall record. This was Riske’s first career Fed Cup doubles match.

The United States Fed Cup Team is now 5-5 in the fifth-and-decisive doubles match.

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 99 nations taking part in 2015. The U.S. currently holds an overall 144-36 record. The U.S. leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles, the last coming in 2000.

U.S. VS. ITALY – FINAL RESULTS

DAY/LOCAL TIME MATCH PAIRING

Saturday, 1:00 p.m. Singles A: Serena Williams (USA) def. Camila Giorgi, 7-6(5), 6-2

Singles B: Sara Errani (ITA) def. Lauren Davis, 6-1, 6-2

Sunday, 11:30 a.m. Singles C: Serena Williams (USA) def. Sara Errani, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3

Singles D: Flavia Pennetta (ITA) def. Christina McHale, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles: Sara Errani/Flavia Pennetta (ITA)

def. Serena Williams/Alison Riske (USA), 6-0, 6-3

WHAT’S NEXT

The U.S. will be relegated to World Group II in 2016. The 2016 Fed Cup draw will be made in June.

FED CUP SCORE UPDATE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

World Group Semifinal

Czech Republic def. France, 3-1

Russia def. Germany, 3-2

World Group Playoff

Italy def. USA, 3-2

Netherlands def. Australia, 3-1

Poland is tied with Switzerland, 2-2

Canada is tied Romania, 1-1

World Group II Playoff

Serbia def. Paraguay, 4-1

Slovakia def. Sweden, 4-0

Belarus def. Japan, 3-2

Spain def. Argentina, 3-0

THEY SAID IT…Serena speaks …

SERENA WILLIAMS

On her singles match today…

Today has been a big eye opener. I need to go home and train. I am totally not ready for clay court season as I thought I was. This was a great match for me, even if I had lost, I think it would have been a wonderful match. That is one good thing about playing Fed Cup and things like this it gives you the practice that you normally would not get.

On how much training on clay before Fed Cup…

Not as much as I normally would of. Normally I would train a few weeks and then go play Madrid. I did not have much time. Like I said, I could have had this match later in the year. Next time, I will be really ready and I’ll know what to expect. I am playing like I am on hard court and I’m not. So, I have to play and be ready to hit 1,000 shots, if necessary.

On playing against Errani and Pennetta and their doubles experience…

They are a very solid team and obviously, they have both been No. 1 in doubles. I have been No. 1, so I felt like I had the opportunity to take some chances and do the best I can. They were the better team today and ultimately, they got the win, which they deserved since they played better.

On her next plans…

I am going to go train. I had a great experience here in singles and doubles. There are some things that I need to work on and do. I am going to go home, train, and get ready for the rest of the season.

CAPTAIN MARY JOE FERNANDEZ

About the future of U.S. Fed Cup Team…

I think it is a big challenge. We have to work harder. We came close today and just keep plugging away. The good news is that we have a lot of players in the Top 100 and hopefully, we can get two wins next year and get back into the World Group.

On Alison and Serena never playing doubles together before…

Playing on this surface for them is a big advantage. I felt that Serena and Alison after a few games started to mesh and the chemistry was there. Like Serena said, it was tough. They don’t miss and they defend really well and they make moves and they play a lot more. Serena has not played a doubles match for a long time. For the first time in the second set, Serena and Alison gave themselves a chance, which I was really proud of.

What is it like to play every tie with different teams…

It is not that frustrating. I feel that it is an opportunity and it is exciting for me to see the next generation come along. It is great to have a lot of players to choose from. You try to build the best team possible each time, depending on where you are, the playing the surface, and who you are playing against. For me, I love it. It is a lot of fun for me. I take great pride and it’s an honor to represent my country and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Topics: Bnp Paribas, Fed Cup tennis, Italy, Sports, Tennis, US Fed Cup

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10sBalls_com says:

April 19, 2015 at 12:14 pm

TENNIS NEWS FROM @FedCup #TENNIS: #ITALY DEFEATS THE #UNITEDSTATES 3-2, SERBIA, BELARUS, THE NETHERLANDS ALL WIN- http://t.co/d526zIcLX4
TifoCami says:

April 19, 2015 at 1:58 pm

RT @TennisNewsOne: TENNIS NEWS FROM FED CUP TENNIS: ITALY DEFEATS THE UNITED STATES 3-2, SERBIA, BELARUS, THE NETHERLANDS… http://t.co/5s…