With the 2007 Fed Cup final only one day away, today’s Open Forum Friday discussion is about your opinion of the importance of Fed Cup. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is the yearly Fed Cup event to you? Do you feel disappointed when your country’s top stars fail to compete? Because [...]
With the 2007 Fed Cup final only one day away, today’s Open Forum Friday discussion is about your opinion of the importance of Fed Cup.
Everyone, feel free to take part in today’s discussion and don’t forget to join us this weekend for blog updates of the final between Russia and Italy!
I don’t really care about Fed Cup or Davis Cup, they are boring! :-P
Only players care about them because they have to play it in order to qualify for the Olympics.
I’d say I feel an even 5 for them. The Fed Cup organization isn’t set up that well (and I don’t really have any ideas of how to change it). It’s just a blimp on the annual tennis season. Some top players participate, others don’t. I think it’s a great tradition and needs to be addressed. This is just based on my memory, but the fact that the Fed Cup tie in April, between the USA and Belgium, in southern Florida, which featured the Williams sisters could not sell out a 3,000 seat stadium over two days of play does not bode well.
It is disappointing to see the top players sit out. I don’t think it should be a requirement to play for your country, but, as some players believe, it is an honor. Ask Amelie Mauresmo or Daniela Hantuchova. Players like these circle those weeks on the calendar for Fed Cup, hoping to achieve glory for their country.
The team aspect is such a great environment for the players. Cheering your countrywomen on, feeling the pressure of playing not just for yourself, but for others, etc. Like I said earlier, it’s a great tradition that needs to be addressed for it can continue. Perhaps some ranking points? More opportune weeks on the calendar (though the tour is trying to fix this for 2008)? A different format? Let’s make Fed Cup one of the highlights of the year, instead of an also-ran.
I like the competition of Fed and Davis Cup. I don’t really care “who” plays, top players or otherwise, so long as we win. I do love to cheer for good old USA during those competitions.
since I too regard tennis as an individual sport foremost (because I prefer
singles) I do not follow Fed Cup. I am a US citizen but I always root for my
birth nation whenever it is competing. That is a primal instinct in me.
Otherwise I prefer to back who I feel is the ‘best player” and not for a front
runner touted by the media or the tv talking heads.