St. Louis to Host U.S.-France Fed Cup Play in April
The USTA has announced that Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University has been selected as the site for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Playoff between the United States and France, April 19-20. Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international women’s team competition, as 96 countries have entered in 2014. The best-of-five match series begins on Saturday, April 19, with two singles matches, followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match on Sunday, April 20. Matches will be played on an indoor hard court. The United States leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles, the last coming in 2000.
The U.S.-France winner will advance to the 2015 World Group and have a chance to compete for the Fed Cup title next year. The loser will be relegated to World Group II. The U.S. has competed in the World Group in 41 of 42 Fed Cup competitions (all but 2012) and is 3-1 in World Group Playoff matches.
“This is the first time we are playing Fed Cup in St. Louis, so I am really looking forward to competing there next month in front of an enthusiastic and patriotic home crowd,” said Mary Joe Fernandez, who is in her sixth year as the U.S. Fed Cup captain. “We have veteran players in Serena and Venus Williams who are available to play, as well as many strong, up-and-coming young Americans who are always excited to compete for their country. The tennis will be fantastic, from both the U.S. and France, so we are excited to have the city of St. Louis behind us.”
Missouri will be hosting Fed Cup for the second time. The state previously hosted the 2002 World Group Playoff in Springfield at the Cooper Tennis Complex, where a team that included nine-time Grand Slam champion Monica Seles and 2014 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Lindsay Davenport swept Israel, 5-0.
The United States Fed Cup Team will be competing in its third consecutive home tie. In February, the U.S. played in the World Group Quarterfinal in Cleveland, falling to reigning champion Italy, 3-1, with a team of three Fed Cup rookies. The U.S. also found itself in the World Group Playoff in 2013, when Serena Williams and Venus Williams led the U.S. to victory over Sweden in Delray Beach, Fla. The U.S. is 37-5 all-time in Fed Cup ties played at home and holds an overall 143-34 record.
This will mark the 13th matchup between the U.S. and France in Fed Cup competition. The U.S. holds an 11-1 advantage, with its only loss coming in the 2003 Final held in Moscow on indoor carpet, where France won, 4-1. The U.S. last played France in Fed Cup in the 2010 World Group Quarterfinal in Lievin, France, with the U.S. winning, 4-1, on an indoor clay court.
