Venus to the Rescue as US Sails by Sweden in Fed Cup #USTA
Venus to the Rescue as US Sails by Sweden in Fed Cup
For as much as Venus Williams has accomplished, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist achieved a first on Sunday.
Williams, ranked No. 22 in the world, defeated No. 66 Johanna Larsson of Sweden, 6-3, 7-5, to clinch the United States’ Fed Cup World Group Playoff victory over Sweden at the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla. It is the first time Williams – who has played in nine U.S. Fed Cup ties and won a Fed Cup championship in 1999 – has clinched a tie for the U.S.
Substituted in for Sloane Stephens by U.S. Captain Mary Joe Fernandez, Williams, after eight match points, clinched the tie in the fourth and final singles match. The U.S. won the tie, 3-2, after Sweden recorded a walkover victory in the doubles match.
In Sunday’s first singles rubber, a meeting of each team’s No. 1 players, world No. 1 Serena Williams defeated No. 54 Sofia Arvidsson, 6-2, 6-1, to give the U.S. a 2-1 advantage. Serena’s 57-minute triumph brought her total match time in two singles victories this weekend to 2 hours, 3 minutes between Saturday and Sunday. The U.S. is 6-0 when Serena plays.
Overall, Serena is 10-0 in Fed Cup singles play, while Venus is 15-3. This was the fifth Fed Cup tie in which the Williams sisters have played together and only the third Fed Cup tie in which they have both played singles
The U.S. now improves to 4-1 against Sweden, 4-0 in ties played in Florida and 3-0 in ties played at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. Fifth-year U.S. Captain Mary Joe Fernandez improved her record to 7-5.
WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS
Italy leads the Czech Republic, 2-1 (rain delay)
Russia defeated the Slovak Republic, 3-2
WORLD GROUP PLAYOFFS
USA defeated Sweden, 3-2
Germany defeated Serbia, 3-2
Switzerland and Australia are 0-0 (rain delay)
Spain defeated Japan, 4-0
WORLD GROUP II PLAYOFFS
Poland defeated Belgium, 4-1
Canada defeated Ukraine, 3-2
France defeated Kazakhstan, 4-1
Argentina defeated Great Britain, 3-1
—Pat Mitsch, USTA
Family Circle Cup Friday Predictions #FCC2013
Varvara Will Win Twice Tomorrow
The field is a mess, and the Williams sisters and anyone else who has to play twice tomorrow are threatened to slip up or go down with injury at the Family Circle Cup. In the case of Wozniacki and Jankovic, the fact that they play only one match tomorrow against underdog opponents Voegele and Bouchard bodes very well for those two former champions of this tournament. I predict Venus will not be able to overcome Lepchenko’s precise game of late and in fact, I think Varvara will win twice tomorrow.
Predictions:
Serena Williams d. Burdette
Safarova d. Cirstea
Serena Williams d. Safarova
Lepchenko d. Venus Williams
Mattek-Sands d. Keys
Lepchenko d. Mattek-Sands
Jankovic d. Bouchard
Wozniacki d. Voegele
Five Former Family Cup Champions to Cure the Upset Stomach in Round of 16
Five Former Family Cup Champions to Cure the Upset Stomach in Round of 16
Mallory Burdette, Jessica Pegula and Eugenie Bouchard have enjoyed a fantastic ride in Charleston and delighted fans with their strong performances in upset wins this week.
But it really is time to restore some order at the Family Circle Cup.
This afternoon, Burdette will face prohibitive favorite Serena Williams on BJK Stadium Court while Jess Pegula gets Jelena Jankovic on Althea Gibson Court. Tonight, Genie Bouchard will be under the lights of BJK Stadium when she battles Sam Stosur. Upsets at the Family Circle Cup aren’t likely to rear their head today, but anything is possible. If even one of the underdogs advance, it would mark a career-high moment for them.
With 5 former Cup champions still in the mix–Wozniacki, Stosur, Serena Willams, Venus Williams, and Jankovic, this tournament doesn’t really offer much more room for upsets.
How’s your bracket? Mine was destroyed when Sloane Stephens and Carla Suarez-Navarro went down.
UPDATE: Andrea Petkovic
Second Seed, Caroline Wozniacki (WC), has received a Walkover due to Andrea Petkovic (WC) withdrawing due to a right calf injury.
Petkovic states, “I’m very happy that I came here – it is a very beautiful tournament and I loved every part of it here, so I hope to come back again under better conditions. I’m really sorry that I had to pull out but it was just too dangerous and I don’t want to risk anything.”
RESULTS – APRIL 03, 2013
Women’s
Singles – Second Round
[2] [WC] C Wozniacki (DEN) d S Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 61 61
[3] S Stosur (AUS) d M Erakovic (NZL) 61 62
[6] L Safarova (CZE) d M Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 75 61
[10] J Goerges (GER) d O Govortsova (BLR) 62 06 63
[Q] M Burdette (USA) d [15] S Lisicki (GER) 36 76(5) 75
[Q] E Bouchard (CAN) d [16] L Robson (GBR) 64 36 61
M Keys (USA) d [Q] G Min (USA) 64 63
[WC] A Petkovic (GER) d [Q] V King (USA) 75 64
Women’s
Doubles – First Round
[4] J Goerges (GER) / Y Shvedova (KAZ) d A Groenefeld (GER) / J Husarova (SVK) 36 76(6) 12-10
A Barty (AUS) / A Rodionova (AUS) d N Grandin (RSA) / V Uhlirova (CZE) 62 62
ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, APRIL 04, 2013
BILLIE JEAN KING start 11:00 am
[WC] A Petkovic (GER) vs [2] [WC] C Wozniacki (DEN)
Not Before 1:00 PM
[1] S Williams (USA) vs [Q] M Burdette (USA)
[12] V Lepchenko (USA) vs [5] V Williams (USA)
[11] S Cirstea (ROU) vs [6] L Safarova (CZE)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[Q] E Bouchard (CAN) vs [3] S Stosur (AUS)
[1] A Hlavackova (CZE) / L Huber (USA) or [Alt] M Erakovic (NZL) / J Pegula (USA) vs H Chan (TPE) / O Govortsova (BLR)
ALTHEA GIBSON start 11:00 am
[WC] B Mattek-Sands (USA) vs M Keys (USA)
S Voegele (SUI) vs [10] J Goerges (GER)
[Q] J Pegula (USA) vs [9] J Jankovic (SRB)
[4] J Goerges (GER) / Y Shvedova (KAZ) vs M Moulton-Levy (USA) / S Zhang (CHN)\
—S. Fogleman
Monday a Mammoth Day for Marathon Matches @FamilyCircleCup
Monday a Mammoth Day for Marathon Matches @FamilyCircleCup
CHARLESTON—Monday was a mammoth day for marathon matches in Charleston.
Olga Govortsova started things off by dropping Jamie Hampton 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 on Stadium Court. Following that match, Stadium Court fans got another three setter when Varvara Lepchenko ousted Christina McHale 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Mathilde Johansson outlasted Melinda Czink 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 and Stefanie Voegele bested Teliana Pereria 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Then there was Silvia Soler-Espinosa taking out Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) and Jesse Pegula triumphing over Muguruza 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-5.
Varvara
Those were puny 5K fun runs compared to the 3:42 26.2 miler filed by Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Anastasia Rodionova on Althea Gibson court. The 3:42 is easily the longest match in the 2013 WTA season. After the match, BMS told Rodionova that she was a “warrior”. Understatement of the year but a classy move from Bethanie.
Now that’s a Match!
Those who took the express train to victory today included Sorona Cirstea in a 6-4, 7-6 drubbing of Tatiana Malek, Camila Giorgi in a 6-4, 6,-4 win over Mandy Minella, Grace Min in a 6-3, 0-0 retirement over Tamira Paszek, and Genie Bouchard in a 6-2, 6-3 win over Nastassja Burnett. Monica Puig notched a quick 6-4, 6-0 over Andrea Hlavackova, Andrea Petkovic won easily over Taylor Townsend, 6-3 6-0 and Caroline Garcia eliminated Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 7-6(6), 6-4.
Today, the second round begins with Serena Williams and other seeded players in action including a night match between Americans Sloane Stephens and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
FAMILY CIRCLE CUP – CHARLESTON, SC, USA $ 795,707.00 MARCH 30 – APRIL 07, 2013
RESULTS – APRIL 01, 2013 Women’s Singles – First Round
[11] S Cirstea (ROU) d T Malek (GER) 64 76(5)
[12] V Lepchenko (USA) d C Mchale (USA) 63 46 62
[Q] G Min (USA) d [13] T Paszek (AUT) 63 00 Retired
C Giorgi (ITA) d M Minella (LUX) 64 64
[Q] M Burdette (USA) d K Mladenovic (FRA) 61 16 60
A Medina Garrigues (ESP) d A Rus (NED) 62 62
[WC] B Mattek-Sands (USA) d A Rodionova (AUS) 64 67(4) 76(3)
M Johansson (FRA) d M Czink (HUN) 57 63 75
M Puig (PUR) d A Hlavackova (CZE) 64 60
[Q] J Pegula (USA) d G Muguruza (ESP) 67(2) 64 75
[Q] C Garcia (FRA) d C Scheepers (RSA) 76(6) 64
[Q] E Bouchard (CAN) d [Q] N Burnett (ITA) 62 63
S Voegele (SUI) d [Q] T Pereira (BRA) 46 62 64
O Govortsova (BLR) d J Hampton (USA) 64 67(3) 64
[WC] A Petkovic (GER) d [WC] T Townsend (USA) 63 60
S Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d F Schiavone (ITA) 36 64 76(6)
ORDER OF PLAY – TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2013 BILLIE JEAN KING start 10:00 am
A Tatishvili (GEO) vs [15] S Lisicki (GER)
M Oudin (USA) vs [9] J Jankovic (SRB)
[1] S Williams (USA) vs C Giorgi (ITA)
[8] M Barthel (GER) vs [Q] J Pegula (USA)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[4] S Stephens (USA) vs [WC] B Mattek-Sands (USA)
M Moulton-Levy (USA) / S Zhang (CHN) vs [WC] J Alawi (BUL) / D Kanakova (CZE)
ALTHEA GIBSON start 10:00 am
D Hantuchova (SVK) vs M Erakovic (NZL)
A Cadantu (ROU) vs M Keys (USA)
[16] L Robson (GBR) vs E Cabeza Candela (ESP)
[12] V Lepchenko (USA) vs M Johansson (FRA)
K Mladenovic (FRA) / L Safarova (CZE) vs [WC] J Jankovic (SRB) / A Petkovic (GER)
COURT 3 start 10:00 am
[14] Y Shvedova (KAZ) vs [Q] V King (USA)
Y Putintseva (KAZ) vs [10] J Goerges (GER)
Not Before 2:00 PM [7] C Suarez Navarro (ESP) vs S Voegele (SUI)
Not Before 3:30 PM [11] S Cirstea (ROU) vs A Medina Garrigues (ESP)
COURT 4 start 12:00 noon
R Oprandi (SUI) vs M Lucic-Baroni (CRO)
H Chan (TPE) / O Govortsova (BLR) vs L Dekmeijere (LAT) / T Malek (GER)
@FamilyCircleCup Sunday Qualifying: Americans Roll on Easter Sunday #FCC2013
Vania King Powers Through
CHARLESTON—Like an Easter Egg on the lawn of the Daniel Island Tennis Center, the US of A rolled on Sunday at the Family Circle Cup qualifying in Charleston, South Carolina. Every American player won who showed up today unless they had the misfortune of playing another American.
Mallory Burdette beat Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-1, Jesse Pegula bombed Portugal’s Michelle Larcher DeBrito 7-6. 6-3, Grace Min rolled past Sesil Karatantcheva 6-1, 6-3, Vania King dispatched Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2 and North American Genie Bouchard dominated Paula Cristina Goncalves 6-1, 6-0.
Non-American winners today included Nastassja Burnett of Italy (not UCLA), a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 winner over Petra Rampre, Brazilian Teliana Pererira in a 7-5, 6-2 advance over Paula Ormaechea, and Caroline Garcia, a 6-2, 6-1 victor over Kristina Pliskova.
In an earlier roll, local children collected 6,000 candy-filled eggs on the tennis center grounds within 5 minutes.
First round play starts tomorrow morning and we’ll post the Order of Play as soon as it becomes available.
—S. Fogleman
Qualifying Saturday Also Practice Day @FamilyCircleCup
Schiavone’s Grunts Scared Stephanie Voegele
CHARLESTON—Almost everyone was out and about today as the good weather arrived just in time for pro tennis to be played between the Wando and Cooper Rivers. The exceptions: there were no sightings of Venus or Birthday Girl Sam Stosur.
Francesca practiced with Voegele, the Rodionovas practiced together and with partners, and Madison Keys teamed up with Marina Erakovic.
But the biggest practices were on Stadium Court. Wozniacki got there first, which was a good thing for her, because Lisicki stayed on court for nearly three hours after she took over.
She hit with Mona Barthel, then she hit with her coach, followed by a hitting partner. She looked in form and I expect her to be in the running next Friday. Check out the Sabi Split she pulled off at the end of the video.
Hello, Charleston! #FCC2013
Hello, @SOTBPedro!
After a grueling 11 hour family car ride down 95, I am happy to be here. This officially marks my daughter’s longest car trip and she was great. She’s looking forward to three days of kid’s activities at the Cup, including the kid-interactive, chip-pluckin’ main draw ceremony tomorrow and an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday.
I got a great deal on Hotwire for what turns out to be an outdated but value-rich 3.5 star hotel. The interesting thing is that it is just down the street from a motel where I booked a room last year and then chickened out and canceled after I read reviews like “You. Will. Die. Here.” Of course, I paraphrase. Coming from Baltimore, it takes a lot to get me nervous about a place where I’m only crashing for a few nights. In the end, the unanimity of conviction from Tripadvisor contributors got the best of me on that one. The worst part is, the motel didn’t look that bad when I drove by it at sundown tonight. Anyway, if you need a place to get away from it all for $30/night in North Ctown, email me for the opposite of a recommendation.
Here’s the tennis excitement.
—I’ve got an official Eintracht USA life membership card to give to Andrea Petkovic, as she is a huge fan of that German city’s football team.
–Too bad that Sara Errani is out with injury. The only time I met her, she refused to give credit to anything except her racquet. I really wanted to see if she would finally take a little credit for her consistency. Next time, Sara.
—There is a huge American roster tomorrow on display at the Qualifying, to wit:
FAMILY CIRCLE CUP – CHARLESTON, SC, USA
$ 795,707.00
MARCH 30 – APRIL 07, 2013
Q. Women’s Singles
First Round
[1] K Pliskova (CZE) vs. A Riske (USA)
A Rodionova (RUS) vs. [9] V King (USA)
[2] M Burdette (USA) vs. V Solovyeva (RUS)
[WC] L Chirico (USA) vs. [15] Y Beygelzimer (UKR)
[3] K Pliskova (CZE) vs. C Scholl (USA)
[WC] S Marand (USA) vs. [11] C Garcia (FRA)
[4] S Karatantcheva (KAZ) vs. C Castano (COL)
S Rogers (USA) vs. [16] G Min (USA)
[5] T Pereira (BRA) vs. J Elie (USA)
[WC] V Duval (USA) vs. [10] P Ormaechea (ARG)
[6] E Bouchard (CAN) vs. K Marosi (HUN)
P Goncalves (BRA) vs. [14] I Falconi (USA)
[7] S Zhang (CHN) vs. P Rampre (SLO)
A Barty (AUS) vs. [12] N Burnett (ITA)
[8] M Larcher de Brito (POR) vs. [WC] H Carter (USA)
J Craybas (USA) vs. [13] J Pegula (USA)
ORDER OF PLAY – SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2013
ALTHEA GIBSON start 10:00 am
Qualifying – J Craybas (USA) vs J Pegula (USA)
Qualifying – [WC] V Duval (USA) vs P Ormaechea (ARG)
Qualifying – S Rogers (USA) vs G Min (USA)
Qualifying – K Pliskova (CZE) vs A Riske (USA)
COURT 3 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – M Burdette (USA) vs V Solovyeva (RUS)
Qualifying – S Karatantcheva (KAZ) vs C Castano (COL)
Qualifying – T Pereira (BRA) vs J Elie (USA)
Qualifying – P Goncalves (BRA) vs I Falconi (USA)
COURT 4 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – M Larcher de Brito (POR) vs [WC] H Carter (USA)
Qualifying – A Barty (AUS) vs N Burnett (ITA)
Qualifying – E Bouchard (CAN) vs K Marosi (HUN)
Qualifying – A Rodionova (RUS) vs V King (USA)
COURT 5 start 10:00 am
Qualifying – [WC] L Chirico (USA) vs Y Beygelzimer (UKR)
Qualifying – S Zhang (CHN) vs P Rampre (SLO)
Qualifying – [WC] S Marand (USA) vs C Garcia (FRA)
Qualifying – K Pliskova (CZE) vs C Scholl (USA)
SARA ERRANI WITHDRAWS FROM FAMILY CIRCLE CUP
SARA ERRANI WITHDRAWS FROM FAMILY CIRCLE CUP
Errani withdraws from Charleston due to right thigh injury
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C.- Sara Errani has withdrawn from the Family Circle Cup due to a right thigh injury.
The World No. 7 Errani was to make her second appearance in Charleston next week.
“I’m very disappointed to have to withdraw from a great event like Charleston”, said Errani. “During my doubles match (in Miami) today in the 2nd set we had one long point and I thought the adductor was not feeling right. I like always to play and be 100% but this time it just couldn’t be, so I had to withdraw from the great event in Charleston. It’s a very good tournament, I really wanted to go there very much, but unfortunately this kind of thing sometimes happens and I’m sad about that.”
“I want to wish everyone in Charleston the best for a great week especially the organizers and sponsors. I wish them great success and hope to come back next year. There will be many other great players there this year, so I think the fans will love the tennis that they will see.”
A native of Italy, Errani, had her breakthrough season in 2012, where she reached the quarterfinals, in singles, and finals, in doubles, at the Australian Open. The same year, she reached the finals of the French Open, in singles, and won its doubles title. She also appeared in the singles semi-finals at the US Open before capturing its doubles win.
—FCC
@VenusesWilliams to Showcase ‘EleVen’ Apparel @FamilyCircleCup Exo #2013FCC
@VenusesWilliams to Showcase ‘EleVen’ Apparel @FamilyCircleCup Exo #2013FCC
Four Charleston Women to Play & Participate in Event
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C.- Venus Williams, former world No.1 and 2004 Family Circle Cup Champion, will showcase her apparel line, EleVen, in a World Team Tennis format exhibition at the Family Circle Cup on April 1st. Williams, alongside four Charleston women, will play on the Althea Gibson Court from 4:30 – 6:00 pm.
“Venus is known for making the tennis court her fashion runway,” said Eleanor Adams, Tournament Director for the Family Circle Cup. “It’s only fitting to have her showcase her 2013 EleVen clothing line in an exhibition match. She’s so good to our fans, and I know that the local women participating are very excited to play alongside a world renowned tennis star!”
All of the players in the exhibition match will be dressed in styles from the Spring 2013 collection of EleVen By Venus Williams and the apparel will be on-sale during the match as well as throughout the week in the tournament merchandise tent. The all-female ball crew will also be clothed in apparel by EleVen.
Williams believes that if you look good, you play well. In 2007, she debuted a collection of classic tennis dresses and sportswear. In 2012, Williams re-launched EleVen as a true active lifestyle brand available to customers. This fresh start for the line embodies William’s iconoclastic approach to lifestyle activewear: strong, simple, and iconic. EleVen By Venus Williams is sold at tennis shops, specialty boutiques, and online at EleVenbyVenus.com.
“I’m excited to showcase my 2013 EleVen collection to the fans at the Family Circle Cup, and what better way than on the court where players can look good and play well!,” said Williams.
For more information about the exhibition match or to purchase tickets, visit FamilyCircleCup.com. For more information on EleVen, go to http://elevenbyvenus.com/.
2013 Family Circle Cup Player Field Announced; 28 Nations Represented; Many Returning Players
FAMILY CIRCLE CUP PLAYER FIELD COMPLETE
International Player Field from 28 Nations, Including Five Past Cup Champions
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C.- The 2013 Family Circle Cup singles player field is officially complete for the 41sttournament, March 30th – April 7th. The main draw contains players from 28 countries, and is highlighted by five former Cup champions including Serena Williams (2008 & 2012), Samantha Stosur (2010), Venus Williams (2004), Jelena Jankovic (2007) and Sabine Lisicki (2009).
“Our world-class player field includes an incredible range of players, many the young stars of tomorrow,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager. “We’re so happy to welcome five former champions back to Charleston, as well as many of our fan favorites.”
Highlights from the Main Draw include:
- International player field featuring 28 nation
- Five former Family Circle Cup Champions
- Seventeen of the top 40 players in the WTA Ranking
- 2010 French Open Champion & 2011 French Open finalist Francesca Schiavone
Main Draw Player Field:
Serena Williams – USA
Sara Errani – Italy
Samantha Stosur – Australia
Sloane Stephens – USA
Lucie Safarova – Czech Republic
Venus Williams – USA
Jelena Jankovic – Serbia
Julia Goerges – Germany
Varvara Lepchenko- USA
Tamira Paszek – Austria
Mona Barthel – Germany
Carla Suarez Navarro – Spain
Sorana Cirstea – Romania
Elena Vesnina – Russia
Yaroslava Shvedova – Kazakhstan
Sabine Lisicki – Germany
Heather Watson – Great Britain
Kaia Kanepi – Estonia
Laura Robson – Great Britain
Christina McHale – USA
Francesca Schiavone – Italy
Lucie Hradecka – Czech Republic
Lourdes Dominguez Lino – Spain
Anna Tatishvili – Georgia
Kristina Mladenovic – France
Romina Oprandi – Switzerland
Chanelle Scheepers – Russia
Anabel Medina Garrigues – Spain
Marina Erakovic – New Zealand
Jamie Hampton – USA
Olga Govortsova – Belarus
Andrea Hlavackova – Czech Republic
Arantxa Rus – Netherlands
Daniela Hantuchova – Slovakia
Petra Cetkovska – Czech Republic
Madison Keys – USA
Pauline Parmentier – France
Camila Giorgi – Italy
Polona Hercog – Slovenia
Mathilde Johansson – France
Melanie Oudin – USA
Silvia Soler-Espinosa – Spain
Ksenia Pervak – Kazakhstan
For more information on the Family Circle Cup player field, please visit http://www.familycirclecup.com/players/field/. The Family Circle Cup will also issue four wildcard entries into its player field, to be announced at a later date.
