The
Fed Cup’s second-ranked nation, Italy will play longtime Fed Cup rivals, Team
USA, in the first round of international tennis’ World Group for the 15th
straight year. Played on an 800-square-metre indoor clay court, the
much-anticipated round will be held on February 9 (3pm) and 10 (1:30pm) at the
105 Stadium in the coastal city of Rimini, famous for its nightlife and
beaches.
With
the return of the Williams sisters to Fed Cup action in 2012, the U.S. team had
a promising season, gaining promotion back to the World Group. The Williams
sisters were expected to be in Rimini for the 2013 Fed Cup, which marks its 50th
anniversary this year, hwoever they recently announced that they would not attend. The US stars participating include team captain Mary Joe Fernandez, Melanie Oudin, Varvara Lepchenko and up-comer Jamie Hampton. Doubles champ Liezel Huber will also be there.
Although
the rivalry between Italy and the United States goes back to 1963, when the Fed
Cup started, it will certainly heat up if the Williams sisters participate. In
the first major tournament of the year, the Australia Open, they were ousted by
the Italian duo Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, who went on to win the doubles
title. Errani and Vinci will be in Rimini, along with two young players from Italy, Karin Knapp and Nastassja Burnett. (Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone were not called to participate.)
For
tickets, see www.ticketone.it; for more information, see www.fedcup.com. To watch the action live, tune
in to RAI Sport, Supertennis TV and ESPN.
