Past Fed Cup Captain King Thinks USA has a Chance

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 4th November 2010

Past Fed Cup Captain King Thinks USA has a Chance

Billie Jean King (USA) US Open Champions, Opening Night ceremonies |

Billie Jean King is the fiercest of patriots when it comes to the United States of America and also the eternal optimist. So who should be surprised that the matriarch of women’s tennis should believe that there is a chance of Fed Cup glory this weekend even though the odds in the San Diego staged final are firmly staked in the favor of holder Italy.

With Serena and Venus Williams recovering from minor surgery, U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez knows she has a battle on her hands to avoid the same final whitewash her team suffered a year ago against exactly the same opposition in Reggio Calabria.

The Italians are spearheaded by French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and backed up by Flavia Pennetta who last weekend in Doha was half of the world’s top doubles team alongside Argentina’s Gisela Dulko. In singles opposition the U.S. can call on 58th ranked Bethanie Mattek-Sands, current world no.67 Melanie Oudin and 18 year-old rookie Coco Vandeweghe who this figures at no.115 in the world rankings.

California-raised King figured in ten Federation Cup winning U.S. teams as a player and followed on with another four when she assumed the non-playing captaincy, the last coming against Spain at the turn of the century.

So it’s ten years since the U.S. got their hands on the trophy but BJK has not given up hope of the barren run coming to an end. She likes the spirit she sees in Mary Joe Fernandez’s line-up and says: “They’re all so hyper and excited. So I think we have a chance. I think playing on surface more suited to Americans than Italians, we can do it.

“I think being on our home court and being indoors on a faster court, that really is helpful to us because Italians like to play on slow, red clay.”

The team is hoping for a noisy support at the 8,850 capacity San Diego Sports Arena. “We want the crowd to be as into it as possible,” said captain Fernandez. “From the very first point, you feel that support. That’s what makes it so nice to be at home, because you’re feeling that constantly.”

Topics: Barren Run, Bethanie Mattek, Billie Jean King, Captain King, Coco Vandeweghe, Cup Glory, Eternal Optimist, Federation Cup, Flavia Pennetta, Francesca Schiavone, French Open Champion, Gisela Dulko, Mary Joe Fernandez, Melanie Oudin, Minor Surgery, Reggio Calabria, San Diego Sports, San Diego Sports Arena, Serena And Venus, Serena And Venus Williams