Fed Cup Preview and Updates.

The Fed Cup semifinals are this weekend, with Italy and the Czech Republic are battling for one spot in the finals, along with Russia and the United States fighting for the other spot.

Team Italy

Flavia Pennetta  (#15 World Ranking)

Francesca Schiavone  (#17)

Sara Errani  (#36)

Roberta Vinci  (#58)

Team Czech Republic

Lucie Safarova  (#38 World Ranking)

Petra Kvitova  (#60)

Lucie Hradecka  (#74)

Kveta Peschke  (#17 world ranking in doubles)

Schedule:

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Flavia Pennetta (ITA)  vs.  Lucie Hradecka (CZE)

RESULT:  Flavia Pennetta (ITA)  6-4, 7-5.

Francesca Schiavone (ITA)  vs.  Lucie Safarova (CZE)

RESULT:  Francesca Schiavone 6-0, 6-2.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Flavia Pennetta (ITA)  vs.  Petra Kvitova (CZE)

RESULT:  Flavia Pennetta 7-6, 6-2   ***** Italy clinches matchup

Sara Errani (ITA)  vs.  Lucie Hradecka (CZE)

RESULT:  Sara Errani 6-4, 6-2.

Sara Errani and Francesca Schiavone (ITA)  vs.  Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke (CZE)

RESULT:  Sara Errani and Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-4.

The Italians are the defending champions and are playing at home in Rome, Italy.  Team Italy is a close knit group who take pride in playing Fed Cup and on paper have the better team of higher ranked women.  I don't see how the Czech Republic has a chance to win and advance to the finals.  Italy will either sweep this 5-0, or with a convincing 4-1 win.

The 2nd semifinal matchup is Russia vs. The United States in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.

Team United States:

Melanie Oudin (#31 in World Rankings)

Bethanie Mattek-Sands  (#129)

Liezel Huber  (#1 world ranking in doubles) 

Sloane Stephens (#374)

Team Russia

Elena Dementieva  (#6 World Ranking)

Ekaterina Makarova  (#62)

Alla Kudryavtseva  (#78)

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was suppose to be on this team, but has injury problems, so the Russians are going with only 3 players.

Schedule:

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Melanie Oudin (USA)  vs.  Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)

RESULT:  Melanie Oudin (USA) 6-3, 6-3.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)  vs.  Elena Dementieva (RUS)

RESULT:  Elena Dementieva (RUS) 6-4, 6-3.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Melanie Oudin (USA)  vs. Elena Dementieva (RUS)

RESULT:  Elena Dementieva 7-6, 0-6, 6-3.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)  vs.  Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)

RESULT:  Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)  vs.  Elena Dementieva and Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)

RESULT:  Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-1.

Its a shame none of the Russian women are willing to get together and win the Fed Cup.  Dementieva is elite, but the other two women on the team are nothing special.  Dementieva will win her 2 singles matches, but the United States will beat up on Kudryavtseva in the singles and will dominate the doubles to move on to the final after a 3-2 victory.