Team Profiles : France & USA

 

Team France

Castellaneta Marina, ITALY: French Amelie Mauresmo serves to Italian Mara Santangelo during the Fed Cup semi-final between Italy and France, 15 July 2007 in Castellaneta Marina, South Italy. France and Italy ended the opening day of their semi-final level at 1-1. AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
At the end of the 1990s and through into the new century, France has shown a marked improvement in their quest for Fed Cup glory. They are currently ranked number three in the world and have reached the semifinals and finals on a regular basis.

The French have already picked up two Fed Cup titles. Their first was in 1997 when they defeated the Netherlands, and their second came in convincing style when they trounced the USA 4-1 in Moscow in 2003.

They followed their 2003 win by reaching the finals in both 2004 and 2005, but failed to get the upper hand against the powerful Russian Team. France is one of four nations that have competed in every Fed Cup tournament since its inception.

The French Fed Cup tennis team is blessed with one outstanding player, former world no.1, Amelie Mauresmo.

Her record at the Fed Cup is as follows:

  • Overall win/loss record – 27/9
  • Singles win/loss record – 26/7
  • Doubles win/loss record – ½

Although she is currently ranked at number 11, Mauresmo has the flair and experience to help France capture the title once again. She is one of the few tennis players, male or female, who have reached the number one berth without having won a Grand Glam. She put the Grand Slam bogey to bed when she won the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006, defeating Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin en route.

Mauresmo was the most influential player in the 2003 Fed Cup win and has won more Fed Cup singles titles than any other French player.

Fed Cup France Player Profiles (Mauresmo did not participate in 2008)

  • Severine Bremond
  • Alizé Cornet
  • Nathalie Dechy
  • Virginie Razzano

Team USA

The USA has had a rough time of it at the Fed Cup in recent years. Although they have won 17 Fed Cup titles, double the amount of any other nation, they have not been successful since 2000.

They dominated the Fed Cup from its inception in 1963 until the year 2000, and it was primarily due to the awesome skills of two of their most hallowed women’s tennis players, Billie Jean King and Chrissie Evert. Although the Williams sisters are both members of Team USA, those glory days have not been easy to recapture.

Both Serena and Venus have done all in their power to secure an 18th Fed Cup victory. In the 2007 semifinals Venus won all four of her singles matches and although Serena only played one match, she won it with ease. Unfortunately the all-powerful Russian team subdued the other Fed Cup tennis teams – Lisa Raymond, Meilen Tu, Jessica Lehnhoff & Vania King – knocking Team USA out of the Fed Cup.

Venus Williams’ Fed Cup appearance record:

  • Of her 21 appearances she has won 17 and lost four
  • She has won 14 singles ties, only losing twice
  • Of her five doubles appearances she has won three and lost two.
  • In 2007 she defeated world no.3 Nadia Petrova 7-6 (6), 0-6, 6-4, although Team USA went on to lose to Team Russia, the eventual champions

Fed Cup USA Player Profiles

  • Jill Craybas
  • Julie Ditty
  • Madison Brengle
  • Liezel Huber

Find out which Fed Cup tennis team has the best Fed Cup odds for the 2009 tournament.


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