On the Baseline Tennis News
April 14, 2011
Bethanie Mattek-Sands will not be able to join USA’s Fed Cup team in the upcoming tie against Germany in the World Group Playoffs April 16-17. She has been suffering from a lingering hip and back injury, which has flared up recently as a result of almost constant match play since the start of 2011.
US Captain Mary Joe Fernandez will now lead a team consisting of Vania King, Melanie Oudin, veteran doubles player Liezel Huber and newcomer, 18-year-old Christina McHale, who is playing in her second Fed Cup tie. Venus Williams will also make the trip to Germany to support the team.
Mattek-Sands, who holds a 2-0 record on clay in Fed Cup ties, expressed her disappointment via her Twitter page about not being able to play. “Really bummed I couldn’t make it to Stuttgart with the rest of team USA!! But getting some much needed recovery time. Go USA!!”
Vania King was excited to get the call to play in the tie. “I got the call out of the blue, and was on my way back to Miami that day. I made the decision in thirty minutes. I love playing Fed Cup and I’ve played with all of these players before so I know them well and we also get along very well. So I’m looking forward to a good match.”
The German Fed Cup is looking to rejoin the World Group after losing last year’s World Group play-off 3-2 to France. Their Fed Cup team consists of Andrea Petkovic, Julia Goerges, Sabine Lisicki and Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
The U.S. holds an 8-4 all-time record against Germany in Fed Cup competition, including a 6-3 record against the former West Germany. In 2008, the Americans defeated Germany 4-1 in their quarterfinal tie in La Jolla, California. The last victory for the Germans was in 1992.
The last time the USA competed in a World Group play-off tie was in 2002, defeating Israel 5-0. The USA has never been out of Fed Cup’s top flight, and has been the most successful Fed Cup nation, being crowned champion 17 times.
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