Italy and United States advance to Fed Cup Final

 

I'm going to take a second to "toot my own horn".  In my previous post I predicted that Italy would win in a dominating way, calling for either a 5-0 or possibly a 4-1 victory.  Well the Italians dominated a Czech Republic team that came into the matchup outgunned.  Italy was all over the Czech's and cruised to a easy 5-0 win.  The defending champions will now face the United States in the final.

The United States "lucked out", when the Russians sent a inferior team to their matchup in Birmingham, Alabama.  Before the matches got underway, I predicted that the Americans would lose their singles matches to Elena Dementieva, but win the remaining 3 to advance to the final.  Well that is exactly what happened.  Dementieva did her part in the singles, but her teammates couldn't give her any help.  Could you imagine what would of happened if Russia would of sent a team with any other Russians like Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, Maria Sharapova, Dinara Safina, or even Maria Kirilenko?  Oudin, Mattek-Sands and the bunch would of been at the wrong end of a beat down.  Its a shame the best of the best aren't always willing to play Fed Cup.  It would be fun, and interesting to see who would come out on top.  The Italians do that, they send their best to Fed Cup, and the women players WANT to play, unlike almost all of the other countries.

So unless the U.S. can convince Serena, Venus, or both of them to play, the Italians should cruise to another Fed Cup championship.