Italy Takes Second Consecutive Fed Cup From the U.S.
November 8, 2010 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Italy’s Flavia Pennetta defeated CoCo Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday to give Italy its second straight Fed Cup final victory over the United States. Pennetta’s victory in the fourth singles match gave the Italians a 3-1 decision in the best-of-five finale.
Pennetta won two matches during the weekend to carry the Italians. Vandeweghe, making her Fed Cup debut, lost twice. In this match with Billie Jean King watching from the front row, Pennetta won six straight games in the first set after Vandeweghe, ranked 114th, broke serve in the first game.
The day began with the United States trailing two matches to none but in the first match of the day Melanie Oudin stunned French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-1 to keep the United States alive. Fernandez substituted Oudin for the United States’ number one player, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who cramped up in her loss to Pennetta on Saturday. The 19-year-old Oudin dominated the 30-year-old Schiavone from midway through the first set on, to pull the United States to 2-1. After Vandeweghe’s defeat the match was in-hand, so the final doubles match wasn’t played.
Italy beat the United States 4-0 last year. Both this year and last year, Venus and Serena Williams sat out for the United States. The Italians have now won three titles in the last five years.
