On the first day of the Fed Cup encounter with the Netherlands, the USA were equal to their favourite role and lead 2-0.
Venus Williams left no doubt about it at the start of the Fed Cup game against the Dutch women, who had been weakened by the match: 81 minutes were enough to defeat Arantxa Rus in Asheville, North Carolina, but then the seven-time Majority winner won 6-1 and 6-4.
Coco Vandeweghe, who played a decisive role in last year’s US women’s triumph in the oldest women’s team competition, had to fight much harder. Vandeweghe won 4:6,7:6 (6) and 6:3 in the end, but was not satisfied with her performance.
“I am only a human being and make mistakes,”explained the winner after the match against Hogenkamp. The fact that she is supported by the Williams sisters is something very special, however:”I was a younger Hitting partner, then a substitute, now a player. and knowing that Venus and Serena are supporting me causes goose bumps.”
Venus and Vandeweghe are again nominated for the last two singles, and in the doubles the highly anticipated comeback of Serena could come. Kathy Rinaldi has nominated the 23-time Grand Slam winner alongside Lauren Davis. The last match of the longstanding number one in the world before her baby break was the final of the Australian Open 2017. There she had defeated Sister Venus in two sets.