The ITF has announced the first four winners of the 2015 Fed Cup Heart Award. Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu has won the award for the World Group and World Group II first round category, while the regional Zone Group I winners are Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay, Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg and Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn. The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas ties took place in February.
The four Heart Award recipients were decided by a public vote on FedCup.com and FedCup.com/es that saw a record 80,000 votes from fans. Ten players were initially shortlisted by a judging panel consisting of ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and a group of former Fed Cup players and members of the international media.
All the winners will receive a cheque to be donated to their chosen charity. Irina-Camelia Begu will donate a cheque for $6,000 to the Romanian charity Up Down Association (children with Down’s syndrome), while cheques for $1,000 will be donated by Cagla Buyukakcay (institutions for orphaned children), Veronica Cepede Royg (a foundation for children with cancer in Paraguay) and Tamarine Tanasugarn (Baan Gung Wipee Halfway Home for Women in Thailand).
Begu and Cepede Royg will both receive their awards on Friday during the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, and World Group and World Group II play-offs taking place on 18-19 April.
ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “There were some outstanding performances during the Fed Cup ties in February, so I would like to congratulate all four players for coming out on top of the public vote. The Fed Cup Heart Award continues to reward players for the commitment they make to their team and the competition as a whole. I am sure that all the winners will take great pride in making their donations to charity.”
The Fed Cup Heart Award is an ITF initiative that was first presented to USA’s Melanie Oudin at the 2009 Fed Cup Final. It aims to recognise players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their team. A total of five players will be recognised in 2015.
Irina-Camelia Begu helped Romania come from behind to defeat Spain 3-2 in the World Group II first round in Galati. With the hosts trailing 2-1, she defeated Silvia Soler-Espinosa, then partnered Monica Niculescu to victory over Anabel Medina Garrigues and Garbine Muguruza.
Begu said: “I’ve always come to play with my heart at the Fed Cup. Tennis is an individual sport, but this competition is about playing in a team and representing my country, Romania. The prize money will go to the Up Down Association, an association that help children with Down’s syndrome. I am glad that I can help them a little bit in their battle with this awful disease.”
Cagla Buyukakcay won all three singles rubbers for Turkey in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Hungary, upsetting the higher-ranked Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Heather Watson of Great Britain.
Buyukakcay said: “It’s an amazing honour for me to receive the Fed Cup Heart Award. I had two of the greatest wins of my career in Fed Cup this year, and the fact that this award was voted for by the fans makes it even more special. I want to thank all of you for voting for me. I’m proud to donate this award money to institutions for orphaned children.”
Veronica Cepede Royg won all seven singles and doubles rubbers as Paraguay qualified for the World Group II play-offs by winning the Americas Zone Group I event in Mexico.
Cepede Royg said: “I am very happy to receive this award, it means a lot to me. I am very proud to represent Paraguay and proud to have got this prestigious award for our small country. My chosen charity is a foundation which helps children with cancer and leukemia in Paraguay.”
Tamarine Tanasugarn now stands in sixth place on the list of most Fed Cup ties played after playing her 57th tie at the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I event in China. Age 37, she won four of her five singles and doubles rubbers during the week.
Tanasugarn said: “I am really honoured to be selected for the Heart Award for Asia/Oceania. I love playing for my country and I would like to thank the Fed Cup and everyone who voted for me. The organisation that I will be donating to is a halfway house for Thai women who need support to overcome their emotional and mental health problems. I am happy that the Fed Cup is helping me to assist a women’s cause in Thailand.”
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 99 nations entered in 2015. The event celebrated its 50th birthday in 2013 in the ITF’s centenary year. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Fed Cup. Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) is an international sponsor and beIN SPORTS is the Official Global Media Rights Partner. For the latest news, visit http://www.fedcup.com, http://www.fedcup.com/es, http://www.twitter.com/fedcup, http://www.facebook.com/FedCup, http://www.Weibo.com/fedcupofficial and http://www.fedcup.tv.
2015 winners
To be presented at the Final: World Group semifinals
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU): World Group / World Group II first round
Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR): Europe/Africa Zone Group I
Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR): Americas Zone Group I
Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA): Asia/Oceania Zone Group I
Value of cheques
$10,000: World Group semifinals winner (x1)
$6,000: World Group / World Group II first round winner (x1)
$1,000: Zone Group I winners (x3)
Judging panel
Francesco Ricci Bitti (ITA), ITF President
Sabine Appelmans (BEL), former Fed Cup player/captain
Mercedes Paz (ARG), former Fed Cup player
Craig Gabriel (AUS), international journalist
Sandra Harwitt (USA), international journalist
Corinne Dubreuil (FRA), international photographer
Ray Giubilo (ITA), international photographer
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