KAILUA-KONA — While it is the first Fed Cup being playing in Hawaii, there will be a semblance of familiarity between opponents when the United States takes on Poland at Holua Tennis Center this weekend.
KAILUA-KONA — While it is the first Fed Cup being playing in Hawaii, there will be a semblance of familiarity between opponents when the United States takes on Poland at Holua Tennis Center this weekend.
With scenic Keauhou Bay as the backdrop at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa, the official draw decided that Sloane Stephens, the United States’ No. 2 singles player, will face off against Poland’s No. 1 Magda Linette to open the best-of-five match series.
The two met last year on the WTA Tour in Washington D.C., where Stephens went on to win her first career WTA title. Stephens defeated Linette, 6-2, 6-1. Stephens and Linette also met as junior players in 2008, which Stephens also won.
The second match of the day will feature Venus Williams against Paula Kania. Williams and Kania have met once on the WTA Tour in 2014 in Stanford, where Williams won 6-3, 6-2.
On Sunday, Williams will play Linette, followed by Stephens against Kania.
If the event gets extended to a fifth, deciding round, it would be experienced teammates Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska against first-time Fed Cup partners Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Coco Vandeweghe.
“We know the other players,” US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez said. “We’re just excited to start. We’ve practiced a lot already and we’re ready to get going.”
There’s no I in Team USA
The team aspect of the Fed Cup brings a unique angle to what is most of the time a very individual sport. And add to that each player wearing their country’s colors, something that is not undervalued by the accomplished athletes. Dressed in Team USA garb, the Americans were all smiles with some very patriotic glasses at the draw.
“I think it’s very important to represent your country in any sense of the word. So that is why I choose to play Fed Cup,” Vandeweghe said.
“It’s just a fun time. You don’t usually get to do this in tennis,” added Williams. “It’s a different experience that you don’t get to have when you grow up as a tennis player, and you’re always solo from beginning to the end. It’s a moment where it’s a break from that.”
As for the strategy at the Fed Cup, it’s is simple — get to three wins as quickly as possible.
“The key is just atmosphere — playing your best tennis, just to give your best,” Kania said.
The winner of this match advances to the World Group Playoff, held April 16-17, to compete for a spot in the 2017 World Group. The losing nation will play in the World Group II Playoff in April to remain in World Group II in 2017.
Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport with approximately 100 nations taking part each year. The U.S. leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles, the last coming in 2000.
NOTES: The US has played in the Fed Cup for 52 years compared to 34 for Poland…The US have played 180 ties with a 144-36 record. Poland has a 58-53 record in 111 ties played…Venus Williams has a 711-195 career singles record and 48 titles. The rest of the field has three. She also has 21 doubles titles to her name…Since Fed Cup began in 1963, 73 players have had the privilege of representing the United States.