big business in the Fed Cup next weekend: In addition to the semi-finals in the World Group, the play-off matches with prominent line-ups are also on the agenda.
Next weekend in Stuttgart and Aix-en-Provence it will be decided who will play in the 2018 Fed Cup final. Germany welcomes the most successful nation of recent years, the Czech Republic, to the Porsche Arena. The French women, on the other hand, have to deal with the defending champions from the USA.
One floor below, however, the tension is also to be grasped with the hands. After all, it is about remaining or re-entering the world group of the women’s team competition with the longest tradition.
The Belarusians, for example, who last year lost to the USA in the final, have good cards. The team have to make do without Victoria Azarenka against Slovakia, but with Aryna Sabalenka they have a player who played her first WTA Tour final in Lugano this weekend. In addition, team boss Tatiana Poutchek can choose between Aliksandra Sasnovic and Vera Lapko as second single player.
On the Slovak side, Anna Lena Schmiedlova, a newly crowned tournament winner (in Bogota), nominally the best player before Schmiedlova’s coup Viktoria Kuzmova, comes to Minsk.
Clear conditions should prevail in Wollongong, where the Australian women meet the Netherlands. The hostesses compete with a full chapel, led by Ashleigh Barty and Daria Gavrilova. Samantha Stosur gives the team a serious touch, Destanee Aiava additional youthful freshness.
After all, the Dutch are countering with Lesley Kerhove (WTA number 62), but otherwise rely on players from outside the world’s top 300.
There is more star power in Cluj, where the Romanians will meet Switzerland: Simona Halep, the world’s number one, leads the team of hosts, who also rely on Sorana Cirstea and Irina-Camelia Begu.
The Swiss team boss Heinz Günthardt has taken not only top player Timea Bacsinszky but also Viktorija Golubic and Jill Teichmann to Romania.
There is still the Italian with veteran Sara Errani at the top, who has to deal with the strong Belgians. Jasmine Polini and Deborah Chiesa will try to book a place in the 2018 World Group for the hostesses.
However, the guests are to be favoured, especially as Elise Mertens won her third WTA title overall in Lugano on Sunday, the second after Hobart 2018, and Alison van Uytwanck and Kirsten Flipkens are always good for one point.