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TENNIS LIVING MAGAZINE
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ROCHESTER MAGAZINE
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Friday, April 24, 2009 9:47 AM ET
By Erin Bruehl, USTA.com
BRNO, Czech Republic -- Bethanie Mattek-Sands was scheduled to make her debut for the U.S. Fed Cup Team back in February in the quarterfinals against Argentina. However, a lingering hip injury forced her out of the tie and put her first Fed Cup appearance on hold.
The time has finally come, however, for the 24-year-old, as the U.S. faces the Czech Republic in the semifinals. She will be starting the competition for the U.S. as the team’s No. 1 singles player, competing in the opening match against Petra Kvitova.
The pairings for the tie, to be played April 25-26 at Starobrno Rondo Arena in Brno, Czech Republic, were announced Friday at the official draw ceremony at Brno City Hall.
“I am really excited this is my first Fed Cup," Mattek-Sands said. "I was selected for the last one but was not able to play because of injury, but I was able to cheer them on, and they pulled it out. I have never experienced Fed Cup, so it will be a good experience, and I am excited to go.”
U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez nominated Alexa Glatch – also making her Fed Cup debut – as the team’s No. 2 singles player behind Mattek and a doubles team of Liezel Huber and Mattek-Sands.
Mattek-Sands and Kvitova, the No. 2 player for the Czech Republic, will play the first singles match starting at 1:30 p.m. local time Saturday.
The second singles match Saturday will feature Iveta Benesova, the Czech Republic’s No. 1 player, against Glatch.
Mattek-Sands and Benesova then square off first on Sunday at 12 p.m. local time, followed by Glatch and Kvitova and then the doubles rubber. For the Czech Republic, Captain Petr Pala nominated Benesova and Kveta Peschke as his doubles team to face Huber and Mattek-Sands.
On match day, team captains do have the opportunity to change their lineup up to one hour before the start of the particular match.
In choosing her lineup for the weekend, Fernandez had the luxury of choosing between so many versatile players.
“We’re pretty fortunate that all of our players can play singles and we have the No. 1 doubles player in Liezel and she can pretty much play with anybody,” Fernandez said. “So it was just a question of figuring out what the best match-ups were, who is playing well on the surface, and we went with what we think is best right now. We’re looking forward to it, and everybody is ready to go.”
"I think it is great that our top player starts first and really sets the pace and tone for the rest of the competition," she added.
Mattek-Sands and Glatch are not very familiar with their opening opponents on Saturday, with neither pair ever having played. Both Benesova and Kvitova, ranked No. 29 and No. 48 in the world, respectively, are left-handed, causing the U.S. team to make some adjustments in their play.
“She is a little bit unknown,” Mattek-Sands, ranked No. 39 in the world, said of Kvitova. “I have seen her play a couple matches on TV, and she did well last year at the French Open. But I have never played against her, so I’m just going on what other people have said, the little bit I have seen, and I am going to play my game.”
Kvitova went 2-0 in singles in the Czech Republic’s victory over Spain in the quarterfinals and this week has been battling an ankle injury. However, she said she does not anticipate it being a problem this weekend and will rely on her teammates for information about Mattek-Sands.
“I feel pretty comfortable about starting the tie,” she said. “Yesterday and today I was practicing at full power… I don’t believe there will be any complications during the tie, but for sure I will have the ankle taped.”
She added, “I do not know much about Bethanie or her playing style. I will see what is said about her from the other players.”
The U.S. Fed Cup Team is attempting to reach the Fed Cup Final for the first time since 2003, and this team for the semifinals will do anything in its power to advance, including Glatch, the No. 114 ranked player in the world, who was prepared to play from the time she was selected for the team.
“This is my first Fed Cup, and so far it has been a great experience. It is an honor to get to represent your country, and I’m really looking forward to playing this weekend,” she said. “Coming in, I was ready to play if Mary Joe asked me to. I am really excited for the opportunity to play, and we’re just going to take it day by day and match by match.”
BRNO, Czech Republic -- Bethanie Mattek-Sands was scheduled to make her debut for the U.S. Fed Cup Team back in February in the quarterfinals against Argentina. However, a lingering hip injury forced her out of the tie and put her first Fed Cup appearance on hold. The time has finally come, however, for the 24-year-old, as the U.S. faces the Czech Republic in the semifinals. She will be starting the competition for the U.S. as the team’s No. 1 singles player, competing in the opening match against Petra Kvitova.
The pairings for the tie, to be played April 25-26 at Starobrno Rondo Arena in Brno, Czech Republic, were announced Friday at the official draw ceremony at Brno City Hall. “I am really excited this is my first Fed Cup," Mattek-Sands said. "I was selected for the last one but was not able to play because of injury, but I was able to cheer them on, and they pulled it out. I have never experienced Fed Cup, so it will be a good experience, and I am excited to go.”
U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez nominated Alexa Glatch – also making her Fed Cup debut – as the team’s No. 2 singles player behind Mattek and a doubles team of Liezel Huber and Mattek-Sands. Mattek-Sands and Kvitova, the No. 2 player for the Czech Republic, will play the first singles match starting at 1:30 p.m. local time Saturday.
The second singles match Saturday will feature Iveta Benesova, the Czech Republic’s No. 1 player, against Glatch.
Mattek-Sands and Benesova then square off first on Sunday at 12 p.m. local time, followed by Glatch and Kvitova and then the doubles rubber. For the Czech Republic, Captain Petr Pala nominated Benesova and Kveta Peschke as his doubles team to face Huber and Mattek-Sands.
On match day, team captains do have the opportunity to change their lineup up to one hour before the start of the particular match.
In choosing her lineup for the weekend, Fernandez had the luxury of choosing between so many versatile players.
“We’re pretty fortunate that all of our players can play singles and we have the No. 1 doubles player in Liezel and she can pretty much play with anybody,” Fernandez said. “So it was just a question of figuring out what the best match-ups were, who is playing well on the surface, and we went with what we think is best right now. We’re looking forward to it, and everybody is ready to go.”
"I think it is great that our top player starts first and really sets the pace and tone for the rest of the competition," she added.
Mattek-Sands and Glatch are not very familiar with their opening opponents on Saturday, with neither pair ever having played. Both Benesova and Kvitova, ranked No. 29 and No. 48 in the world, respectively, are left-handed, causing the U.S. team to make some adjustments in their play.
“She is a little bit unknown,” Mattek-Sands, ranked No. 39 in the world, said of Kvitova. “I have seen her play a couple matches on TV, and she did well last year at the French Open. But I have never played against her, so I’m just going on what other people have said, the little bit I have seen, and I am going to play my game.”
Kvitova went 2-0 in singles in the Czech Republic’s victory over Spain in the quarterfinals and this week has been battling an ankle injury. However, she said she does not anticipate it being a problem this weekend and will rely on her teammates for information about Mattek-Sands.
“I feel pretty comfortable about starting the tie,” she said. “Yesterday and today I was practicing at full power… I don’t believe there will be any complications during the tie, but for sure I will have the ankle taped.”
She added, “I do not know much about Bethanie or her playing style. I will see what is said about her from the other players.”
The U.S. Fed Cup Team is attempting to reach the Fed Cup Final for the first time since 2003, and this team for the semifinals will do anything in its power to advance, including Glatch, the No. 114 ranked player in the world, who was prepared to play from the time she was selected for the team.
“This is my first Fed Cup, and so far it has been a great experience. It is an honor to get to represent your country, and I’m really looking forward to playing this weekend,” she said. “Coming in, I was ready to play if Mary Joe asked me to. I am really excited for the opportunity to play, and we’re just going to take it day by day and match by match.”
2009 BLM LLC - All rights reserved.
