TENNIS NEWS FROM THE BIG ISLE OF HAWAII FED CUP – USA VERSUS POLAND

USA Vs Poland Fed Cup Gets Underway on the Big Island

The venue for the US vs Poland Fed Cup match at Holua Tennis Center is ready and events officially got underway Wednesday with a press conference and tennis clinic for local junior players.

Matches this weekend will pit four of the US top players against their Polish counterparts.

Venus Williams (#12 in the world), Sloane Stephens (#25), CoCo Vandeweghe (46) and doubles specialist Bethanie Mattek-Sands (3) will lead the charge for team USA. Magda Linette (#96), Paula Kania (159) and Alicja Rosolska (1,277) [ she is a highly ranked doubles player ] along with captain/player Klaudia Jans-Ignacik make up the Polish team.

At a press conference Wednesday, both teams unanimously decided that Hawaii is the ultimate venue — Stephens saying how much they “wanted to win this weekend so they could come back.” Vandeweghe adding, “Yes, we’d like to make this our lucky place.”

“I think we should play always Fed Cup just on the islands. That would be the best,” added Polish captain Jans-Ignacik with a laugh.

While it was relaxed fun and games for the most part, the heavily favored US Team hopes to win this match and get back into the World Group.

“You try never to let your guard down. We have been on both ends. We’ve been the underdogs and have won and been the favorites and lost. You know you have to take that seriously, especially team competition,” said Fernandez. “You don’t really know sometimes what to expect. Sometimes the lower-ranked player, that’s where they excel and play their best; sometimes a higher-ranked player doesn’t play as well under the competition of being on a team. So you really have to approach it very seriously and treat it like business as usual.”

Wednesday afternoon it was all about the kids when the US team hosted a community clinic for the local junior players.

Venus Williams, along with US teammates Sloane Stephens, CoCo Vandeweghe, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and captain Mary Jo Fernandez hit the courts to play games and points with the kids.

 

Hundreds of Big Island junior players showed up for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hit a few balls with one of the US top players and from the faces and reactions of both the kids and the players, a good time was had by all.

“They were all trying to beat me. The are trying to beat all of us,” said Williams. “This is so much fun. They are so enthusiastic and are hitting the ball well.”

“It’s pretty special to have the youth come out and try to encourage them to get involved and start playing tennis of,” said Fernandez. “Participation is so important, and it starts with the young ones. We always have fun whenever we’re able to do this.”

“It was a fantastic opportunity for the local kids to have the opportunity to be on the court, hit a little with the players and get pictures and autographs,” said former LSU tennis standout and Big Island coach Ryan Ideta. “Usually they just get to see these players on TV.”

Fed Cup action starts Saturday. The draw is scheduled for Friday at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay (http://sheratonkona.com/).

 

Topics: Alicja Rosolska, BETHANIE Mattek-Sands, Coco Vandeweghe, Fed Cup, Holua Tennis Center, Magda Linette, Paula Kania, Poland, Sloane Stephens, Sports, Tennis, USA, Venus Williams

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