Fed Cup Tennis Schedule 2008

The ITF (International Tennis Federation) has had difficult decisions to make regarding the 2008 Fed Cup Schedule. Not only do the needs and whims of the top international players have to be catered for, 2008 saw  the Olympic Games take place in Beijing, China in early in August.

With an already overflowing competitive tennis calendar, the ITF has decided to move the dates for the Fed Cup up a little, in an effort to accommodate all the top-ranked players. The schedule consequently includes a new date for the Fed Cup in the week following the first Grand Slam event of the year, the Australian Open.

ITF Executive Vice President, Juan Margets, said: “The tennis calendar is even more complex in a year that includes the Olympics but the ITF feels that both tours (men’s and women’s) have been flexible in their approach to both the Olympic tennis event and to Fed Cup and Davis Cup scheduling in 2008. The summer of 2008 presents many challenges for all of us but we feel this is an acceptable calendar for this complicated year.”

The dates for the Fed Cup Tennis Schedule 2008 are:

• First Round – Week commencing 28 January
• Semifinal and Playoff Round – Week commencing 21 April
• Final Round between Russia and Spain – 13 September - 14 September

The following nations competed in the World Group, current ITF rankings in brackets:

1. Russia (1)
2. Italy (2)
3. France (3)
4. USA (4)
5. Spain (6)
6. Peoples Republic of China (7)
7. Israel (8)
8. Germany (9)

The flowing nations competed in the World Group 2, current ITF rankings in brackets:

1. Austria (10)
2. Czech Republic (11)
3. Belgium (5)
4. Japan (12)
5. Argentina (17)
6. Ukraine (15)
7. Croatia (13)
8. Slovakia (14)

Of the 20 top ranked teams, the following teams have been relegated to their specific geographic zones in the Fed Cup Tennis Schedule 2008:

1. Canada (16)
2. Australia (18)
3. Serbia (19)
4. Chinese Taipei (20)

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