The third week of April is free of WTA tournaments. However, a fan of women tennis does not need to be worried. The Fed Cup semifinals and play-off matches are taking places from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st. Team nominations promise tennis of the highest quality.
Fed Cup Semifinals
France – Romania
Place: Rouen, France
Surface: Indoor Clay
France team: Garcia, Mladenovic, Cornet, Parmentier
Romania team: Halep, Buzarnescu, Begu, Niculescu, Olaru
Our view: Halep in a team means that Romania has two points assured, but can they find a way to win an additional one? I do expect close match ending 3-2 or 2-3 with doubles deciding the match. If I had to pick a winner I would go with Romania, but it is a really close decision.
Australia – Belarus
Place: Brisbane, Australia
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Australia team: Barty, Gavrilova, Stosur, Hon
Belarus team: Sabalenka, Sasnovich, Azarenka, Lapko, Marozava
Our view: Hardcourt surface is suitable for Barty and also for Sabalenka and Sasnovich. I expect a very close match with no clear favorite. Maybe, the home field can give Australia a little edge.
Fed Cup play-offs
Latvia – Germany
Place: Riga, Latvia
Surface: Indoor Hard
Latvia team: Sevastova, Ostapenko, Marcinkevica, Vismane, Spaka
Germany team: Kerber, Goerges, Petkovic, Groenfeld
Our view: Hardcourt choice in the middle of the clay season by Latvian team should be advantage mainly for Sevastova. However, one player is not able to win the team match. Ostapenko is still out of the form, so the German team should prevail. Kerber and Goerges should easily slide for three wins.
Czech Republic – Canada
Place: Prostejov, Czech Republic
Surface: Indoor Clay
Czech Republic team: Vondrousova, Muchova, Bouzkova, Safarova, Krejcikova
Canada team: Marino, Dabrowski, Fernandez, Fichman
Our view: Czechs will be without Pliskova, Kvitova, and Siniakova. Canada will be without Andreescu and Bouchard. That makes both teams much weaker on the paper. The match will be played in a small city of Prostejov in a stadium with a capacity of just 1,200 people. The stadium is already sold-out and the atmosphere will be hot there. Vondrousova and Muchova should bring the needed wins easily and I expect the Czech Republic to win this match.
Belgium – Spain
Place: Kortrijk, Belgium
Surface: Indoor Hard
Belgium team: van Uytvanck, Flipkens, Bonaventure, Wickmayer
Spain team: Muguruza, Suarez Navarro, Bolsova Zadoinov, Garcia-Perez, Martinez-Sanchez
Our view: Indoor Hardcourt give an advantage to the home team. Muguruza should win her two matches, but Suarez Navarro is not in her best form and can be a way for Belgium to make this match close.
USA – Switzerland
Place: San Antonio, USA
Surface: Indoor Hard
USA team: Stephens, Keys, Kenin, Pegula, Brady
Switzerland team: Golubic, Bacsinzsky, Perrin, In-Albon
Our view: This match should be easy for the USA. They have a strong squad for an indoor hard surface. Switzerland travels to San Antonia without Bencic which makes them an easy opponent for Keys and Stephens.
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