Draw announced for 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs

The Draw for the 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs was held today at the ITF’s headquarters in London. The World Group play-offs will take place on 12-14 September alongside the World Group semifinals.

The winning nations in the World Group play-offs will qualify for the 2015 World Group, while the losing nations will compete in their respective Zone Group I competitions in 2015.

Seeds for the draw were based on the latest ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking of 7 April.

The draw is as follows:

2014 World Group play-offs (12-14 September)

India (c) v Serbia (s)
Brazil (c) v Spain (s)
Israel (c) v Argentina (s)
Canada (s) (c) v Colombia
USA (s) (c) v Slovak Republic
Australia (s) (c) v Uzbekistan
Netherlands (c) (*) v Croatia (s)
Ukraine (c) v Belgium (s)

(s) denotes seeded nation
(c) denotes choice of ground
(*) denotes choice of ground determined by lot

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in sport, with 122 nations taking part in 2014. The competition is 114 years old having been founded in 1900. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Davis Cup. International sponsors are Rolex (Official Timekeeper) Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) and NH Hotels (Official Hotel), while Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international partner. Follow all the action on http://www.daviscup.com, http://www.copadavis.com, http://www.twitter.com/daviscup, http://www.facebook.com/DavisCupTennis and http://www.daviscup.tv.

Seeds announced for 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs

The ITF has announced the seeds for the Draw for the 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs. The Draw will take place on Tuesday 8 April at the ITF offices in London at 11:00 local time (10:00 GMT). The seeds are based on the new ITF Davis Cup Nations Ranking of 7 April: http://www.daviscup.com/en/rankings/current-rankings.aspx

The eight seeded nations in the World Group play-offs are:

Serbia (1)
Spain (2)
Argentina (3)
Canada (4)
USA (5)
Australia (6)
Croatia (7)
Belgium (8)

Each of the seeds will be drawn against one of the following unseeded nations:

Brazil
Colombia
India
Israel
Netherlands
Slovak Republic
Ukraine
Uzbekistan

The 2014 World Group play-offs will take place alongside the World Group semifinals on 12-14 September. The eight winning nations will contest the 2015 World Group.

The line-up for the World Group play-offs was confirmed when Brazil, Croatia, Colombia, India, Israel, Slovak Republic, Ukraine and Uzbekistan all won their Zone Group I second round ties on 4-6 April. They joined the losers from the 2014 World Group first round ties.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in sport, with 122 nations taking part in 2014. The competition is 114 years old having been founded in 1900. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Davis Cup. International sponsors are Rolex (Official Timekeeper) Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) and NH Hotels (Official Hotel), while Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international partner.

Follow all the action on http://www.daviscup.com, http://www.copadavis.com, http://www.twitter.com/daviscup, http://www.facebook.com/DavisCupTennis and http://www.daviscup.tv.

Wawrinka receives Davis Cup Commitment Award

Swiss tennis star Stanislas Wawrinka headlines the latest group of players to be presented with the Davis Cup Commitment Award.

The ITF, through its National Associations, presented further Davis Cup Commitment Awards during this weekend’s 2014 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and zone group ties on Saturday 5 April.

This new award was conceived as part of the ITF’s 2013 Centenary celebrations, and is presented to Davis Cup players who have shown long-standing dedication to representing their country in this prestigious competition. Each award recipient will have competed in a minimum of 20 home-and-away ties or 50 ties at any level of the competition (including week-long zone group events) over their career.

The ITF presented the first seven trophies to players in an on-court presentation at the 100th Davis Cup Final in Prague in 2012. Among the initial recipients were Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli, who heads the elite list of players having played 66 home or away ties for his country; and San Marino’s Domenico Vicini, who holds the record for the most ties played in all levels of the competition with a total of 89.

This weekend presentations were made to the following players at their respective Davis Cup home ties before the doubles rubber on Saturday 5 April.

Japan – Go Soeda
Korea, Rep. – Lee Hyung-Taik
Mexico – Miguel Gallardo-Valles, Santiago Gonzalez, Leonardo Lavalle, Mario Llamas, Jorge Lozano
Norway – Jan-Frode Andersen
Slovak Republic – Michal Mertinak
South Africa – Rik de Voest*
Switzerland – Stanislas Wawrinka
Thailand – Vittaya Samrej, Paradorn Srichaphan, Woraphol Thongkhamchu

* playing his 20th tie this weekend

A total of 317 players have already qualified to receive the award. Presentations will be made to award winners at Davis Cup home ties throughout 2014. The Commitment Award trophies are based on the design of the current Davis Cup trophy. All recipients will also be recognised on an honours board at the ITF headquarters in London and in a dedicated section on the official Davis Cup website.

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “The Davis Cup Commitment Award reflects the dedication by players for more than a century to represent their country in this prestigious competition. These players have continued to rise to the unique challenge of competing in a team environment in front of their home fans, and we believe that it is fitting to recognise their efforts.”

Follow all the action on http://www.daviscup.com, http://www.copadavis.com, http://www.twitter.com/daviscup, http://www.facebook.com/DavisCupTennis and http://www.daviscup.tv.

Fed Cup semifinal venues revealed

The Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane and the CEZ Arena in Ostrava will play host to the two Fed Cup by BNP Paribas semifinals taking place on the weekend of 19-20 April.

Australia has chosen to host Germany on an outdoor hard court at the home of the combined ATP and WTA Brisbane International event.

The venue, which is no stranger to world-class tennis, saw no less than five of the possible team members in singles action earlier this year as Ashleigh Barty, Casey Dellacqua, Angelique Kerber, Sabine Lisicki and Andrea Petkovic all warmed up for the Australian Open in Queensland.

“I’m thrilled we’ll be playing the Fed Cup semifinal at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane,” said Australian captain Alicia Molik.
“It’s a fantastic venue and I’m sure we’ll get great support from the terrific tennis fans in Brisbane.”

Australia and Germany have met 12 times in Fed Cup, with Australia holding an 8-4 advantage. The most recent meeting was in 2012 in Stuttgart, with Australia winning the World Group play-off 3-2.

Tickets will be available from Ticketek later this month, with further details to be announced soon.

The CEZ Arena in Ostrava will host the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinal tie between Czech Republic and Italy on 19-20 April.

It is the third consecutive year that these two nations have met at the semifinals stage of the Fed Cup competition and the same venue that was used in their last meeting on Czech soil, which took place in 2012.

Several other venues for the Fed Cup World Group and World Group II play-offs have also been announced.

Fed Cup returns to Quebec for Canada’s World Group play-off tie against Slovak Republic which will take place at Laval University in Quebec City.

Romania’s first World Group II play-off tie since 1999 will be staged by the Arenele BNR Stadium in Bucharest while Thailand will travel to Lidkoping to face Sweden. The Maaspoort Sports & Events Stadium will host the World Group II play-off tie between Netherlands and Japan.

The full list of venues is as follows:

World Group semifinals

Czech Republic v Italy – CEZ Arena, Ostrava (hard – indoors)

Australia v Germany – Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane (hard – outdoors)

World Group play-offs

Russia v Argentina – extension until 11 March

Canada v Slovak Republic – PEPS, Laval University, Quebec City (hard – indoors)

USA v France – tbc

Spain v Poland – extension until 15 March

World Group II play-offs

Romania v Serbia – Arenele BNR, Bucharest (clay – outdoors)

Netherlands v Japan – Maaspoort Sports & Events, ’s-Hertogenbosch (clay – indoors)

Sweden v Thailand – Sparbanken Lidkoping Arena , Lidkoping (hard – indoors)

Brazil v Switzerland – tbc

Read more at http://www.fedcup.com/en/news/172923.aspx#8ZLM9SmusDJMjcap.99

ITF Announces Draws for 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas play-offs…

The ITF has announced the draws for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II play-offs on 19-20 April:

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

Russia [s] [c] v Argentina

Canada [c] v Slovak Republic [s]

USA [s] [c] v France

Spain [s] [c] v Poland

WORLD GROUP II PLAY-OFFS

Romania [c] [*] v Serbia [s]

Netherlands [c] [*] v Japan [s]

Sweden [s] [c] [*] v Thailand

Brazil [c] [*] v Switzerland [s]

[s] = seed

[c] = choice of ground

[*] = choice of ground decided by lot

The 2014 World Group and World Group II play-offs will take place alongside the World Group semifinals on 19-20 April. In the semifinals, Czech Republic will be at home to Italy, and Australia has choice of ground against Germany.

Draws announced for Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II ties

Draws announced for Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II ties

The ITF has announced the official draws for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II first round ties taking place on 8-9 February.

Additionally, five Zone Group events are currently taking place this week: Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Budapest, Hungary (4-9 February); Americas Zone Group I in Lambare, Paraguay (5-8 February); Asia/Oceania Zone Groups I and II in Astana, Kazakhstan (5-8 February); and Europe/Africa Zone Group III in Tallinn, Estonia (5-8 February).

All nations contesting the Zone Group I events will be bidding to qualify for the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs on 19-20 April, with two teams qualifying from the Europe/Africa Zone, and one team from both the Americas and Asia/Oceania Zones.

Live scoring for the World Group and World Group II first round ties will be available on the official Fed Cup website throughout the weekend. In addition, the English and Spanish websites will feature a live blog, reports, photographs, audio interviews, podcasts and live streaming. There will also be a social media hub where fans can interact on http://www.fedcup.com/showyourcolours.

Follow all the action on http://www.fedcup.com, http://www.twitter.com/fedcup, http://www.facebook.com/FedCup, and http://www.fedcup.tv.

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 95 nations taking part in 2014. 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 Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international partner.

Follow all the action on http://www.fedcup.com, http://www.fedcup.com/es, http://www.twitter.com/fedcup, http://www.facebook.com/FedCup and
http://www.fedcup.tv

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

USA v ITALY
Venue: Public Auditorium, Cleveland, OH (hard – indoors)

Christina McHale (USA) v Karin Knapp (ITA)
Madison Keys (USA) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Madison Keys (USA) v Karin Knapp (ITA)
Christina McHale (USA) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Lauren Davis/Alison Riske (USA) v Nastassja Burnett/Alice Matteucci (ITA)

SPAIN v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Centro de Tenis Blas Infante, Seville (clay – outdoors)

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)
Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) v Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) v Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)
Lara Arruabarrena/Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Safarova (CZE)

SLOVAK REPUBLIC v GERMANY
Venue: Aegon Arena, National Tennis Centre, Bratislava (hard – indoors)

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Andrea Petkovic (GER)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Angelique Kerber (GER)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Angelique Kerber (GER)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Andrea Petkovic (GER)
Daniela Hantuchova/Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) v Julia Goerges/Anna-Lena Groenfeld (GER)

AUSTRALIA v RUSSIA
Venue: Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart (hard – outdoors)

Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Irina Khromacheva (RUS)
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Veronika Kudermetova (RUS)
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Irina Khromacheva (RUS)
Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Veronika Kudermetova (RUS)
Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Victoria Kan/Valeria Solovyeva (RUS)

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND

CANADA v SERBIA
Venue: Complexe Sportif Claude Robillard, Montreal (hard – indoors)

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) v Vesna Dolonc (SRB)
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) v Jovana Jaksic (SRB)
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) v Vesna Dolonc (SRB)
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) v Jovana Jaksic (SRB)
Gabriela Dabrowski/Sharon Fichman (CAN) v Aleksandra Krunic/Nina Stojanovic (SRB)

SWEDEN v POLAND
Venue: Borashallen, Boras (hard – indoors)

Johanna Larsson (SWE) v Katarzyna Piter (POL)
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Johanna Larsson (SWE) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) v Katarzyna Piter (POL)
Hilda Melander/Rebecca Peterson (SWE) v Paula Kania/Alicja Rosolska (POL)

FRANCE v SWITZERLAND
Venue: Stade de Coubertin, Paris (hard – indoors)

Virginie Razzano (FRA) v Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
Alize Cornet (FRA) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Alize Cornet (FRA) v Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
Virginie Razzano (FRA) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Timea Bacsinszky/Viktorija Golubic (SUI)

ARGENTINA v JAPAN
Venue: Pilara Tennis Club, Buenos Aires (clay – outdoors)

Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Kurumi Nara (JPN)
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Misaki Doi (JPN)
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Kurumi Nara (JPN)
Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Misaki Doi (JPN)
Maria Irigoyen/Paula Ormachea (ARG) v Shuko Aoyama/Risa Ozaki (JPN)

Draws announced for Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II ties

Draws announced for Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II ties

The ITF has announced the official draws for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II first round ties taking place on 8-9 February.

Additionally, five Zone Group events are currently taking place this week: Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Budapest, Hungary (4-9 February); Americas Zone Group I in Lambare, Paraguay (5-8 February); Asia/Oceania Zone Groups I and II in Astana, Kazakhstan (5-8 February); and Europe/Africa Zone Group III in Tallinn, Estonia (5-8 February).

All nations contesting the Zone Group I events will be bidding to qualify for the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs on 19-20 April, with two teams qualifying from the Europe/Africa Zone, and one team from both the Americas and Asia/Oceania Zones.

Live scoring for the World Group and World Group II first round ties will be available on the official Fed Cup website throughout the weekend. In addition, the English and Spanish websites will feature a live blog, reports, photographs, audio interviews, podcasts and live streaming. There will also be a social media hub where fans can interact on http://www.fedcup.com/showyourcolours.

Follow all the action on http://www.fedcup.com, http://www.twitter.com/fedcup, http://www.facebook.com/FedCup, and http://www.fedcup.tv.

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 95 nations taking part in 2014. 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 Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international partner.

Follow all the action on http://www.fedcup.com, http://www.fedcup.com/es, http://www.twitter.com/fedcup, http://www.facebook.com/FedCup and
http://www.fedcup.tv

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

USA v ITALY
Venue: Public Auditorium, Cleveland, OH (hard – indoors)

Christina McHale (USA) v Karin Knapp (ITA)
Madison Keys (USA) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Madison Keys (USA) v Karin Knapp (ITA)
Christina McHale (USA) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Lauren Davis/Alison Riske (USA) v Nastassja Burnett/Alice Matteucci (ITA)

SPAIN v CZECH REPUBLIC
Venue: Centro de Tenis Blas Infante, Seville (clay – outdoors)

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)
Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) v Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) v Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)
Lara Arruabarrena/Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Safarova (CZE)

SLOVAK REPUBLIC v GERMANY
Venue: Aegon Arena, National Tennis Centre, Bratislava (hard – indoors)

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Andrea Petkovic (GER)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Angelique Kerber (GER)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Angelique Kerber (GER)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Andrea Petkovic (GER)
Daniela Hantuchova/Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) v Julia Goerges/Anna-Lena Groenfeld (GER)

AUSTRALIA v RUSSIA
Venue: Domain Tennis Centre, Hobart (hard – outdoors)

Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Irina Khromacheva (RUS)
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Veronika Kudermetova (RUS)
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Irina Khromacheva (RUS)
Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Veronika Kudermetova (RUS)
Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v Victoria Kan/Valeria Solovyeva (RUS)

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND

CANADA v SERBIA
Venue: Complexe Sportif Claude Robillard, Montreal (hard – indoors)

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) v Vesna Dolonc (SRB)
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) v Jovana Jaksic (SRB)
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) v Vesna Dolonc (SRB)
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) v Jovana Jaksic (SRB)
Gabriela Dabrowski/Sharon Fichman (CAN) v Aleksandra Krunic/Nina Stojanovic (SRB)

SWEDEN v POLAND
Venue: Borashallen, Boras (hard – indoors)

Johanna Larsson (SWE) v Katarzyna Piter (POL)
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Johanna Larsson (SWE) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) v Katarzyna Piter (POL)
Hilda Melander/Rebecca Peterson (SWE) v Paula Kania/Alicja Rosolska (POL)

FRANCE v SWITZERLAND
Venue: Stade de Coubertin, Paris (hard – indoors)

Virginie Razzano (FRA) v Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
Alize Cornet (FRA) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Alize Cornet (FRA) v Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
Virginie Razzano (FRA) v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Timea Bacsinszky/Viktorija Golubic (SUI)

ARGENTINA v JAPAN
Venue: Pilara Tennis Club, Buenos Aires (clay – outdoors)

Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Kurumi Nara (JPN)
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Misaki Doi (JPN)
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Kurumi Nara (JPN)
Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Misaki Doi (JPN)
Maria Irigoyen/Paula Ormachea (ARG) v Shuko Aoyama/Risa Ozaki (JPN)