WHITE PLAINS, March 8, 2017
The USTA announced Tuesday that the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa Bay has been selected as the site for the 2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Semifinal between the United States and the Czech Republic, April 22-23. The U.S. reached the semifinals by defeating Germany in the First Round, 5-0, in Maui, Hawaii, earlier this year.
Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with approximately 100 nations taking part each year.
The best-of-five match series begins on Saturday, April 22, with two singles matches. That is followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match on Sunday, April 23. Matches will be played on a temporary outdoor green clay court.
Ticket information will be announced soon.
The winner of this matchup will advance to the Fed Cup Final, Nov. 11-12. The U.S. Fed Cup team made its last appearance in the final in 2010, falling to Italy, 3-1, in San Diego. The U.S. won the last of its record 17 Fed Cup titles in 2000. The Czech Republic has been dominant in Fed Cup in recent years, winning five titles in the last six years (2011-12, 2014-16).
“Saddlebrook is an iconic tennis venue, and we are very pleased that Fed Cup will be showcased here for the first time,” said USTA Chairman of the Board, CEO, and President Katrina Adams. “It will be a perfect site for our Fed Cup match-up against the Czech Republic in April and will be a great host for our players and fans. Florida fans are very enthusiastic about tennis and we look forward to playing for them as they cheer on Team USA to victory.”
Tampa Bay will be hosting Fed Cup for the first time. The U.S. Fed Cup team has never lost a tie played in Florida, holding a 4-0 record in the Sunshine State. The U.S. competed in Delray Beach in 2005, 2007 and 2013. It also competed in Aventura in 1995.
The USTA has partnered with the Saddlebrook Resort to bring this event to Tampa Bay.
“Saddlebrook Resort is thrilled to host the Fed Cup World Group Semifinal between the USA and the Czech Republic,” said Saddlebrook CEO Tom Dempsey. “Partnering with the United States Tennis Association in this tie continues a long and proud tennis relationship.”
The U.S. holds a 9-2 head-to-head record over the Czech Republic in Fed Cup play. The U.S. last faced the Czech Republic in the 2009 World Group Semifinals in Brno, Czech Republic, winning the tie, 3-2, in a fifth-and-decisive doubles rubber to go to the final. The Czech Republic has not defeated the U.S. in Fed Cup competition since 1985.
U.S. Fed Cup Captain Kathy Rinaldi will select the four players to represent the U.S. no later than 10 days prior to the event. The Czech Republic is likely to be led by 2016 US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova and world No. 2 doubles player Lucie Safarova.
