PierreC
10-27-2004, 11:07 AM
Draw for the Fed Cup World Group Semifinals is AnnouncedThe draw for the Fed Cup World Group Semifinals, to be played the week commencing 22 November 2004 , was held today at the Krylatskoe Ice Stadium in Moscow, Russia.
The two seeds for the draw were France and Russia. Host nation Russia was drawn into the first seeded position placing France in the second seeded position. The Mayor of Moscow Mr Yuri Luzhkov then drew Austria to play Russia and Spain to play France.
The criteria for seeding, used by the Fed Cup Committee, includes the current ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking, the rankings of players likely to participate, experience on different surfaces, experience in doubles and other pertinent information.
The draw was well attended with over 80 media and guests present. In addition to the Mayor of Moscow other local dignitaries in attendance were: Chairman of the Moscow Sports Committee Mr Sergei Korol, Vice-Mayor of Moscow Mr Valerie Shantsev and the Chairman of the Russian Federal Agency for Sports and Tourism and former ice hockey player Mr Viacheslav Fetisov.
The Fed Cup Finals will be played at the new 5,200 seat Krylatskoe Ice Stadium, with the semifinals and final taking place in the same week. Matches will be played indoors on Taraflex, the same surface used for the 2003 Fed Cup Finals. The semifinals and final will be the best of five matches: four singles and one doubles with all matches the best of three sets.
Going into the finals France is looking to defend the title it won in 2003, while Spain is bidding for a sixth Fed Cup crown. Austria and Russia - a rising force in women’s tennis - are aiming to win the competition for the first time.
This is the last year of the current Fed Cup format. From 2005, there will be an eight-team World Group I and an eight-team World Group II. All matches in the World Group will be played on a home and away basis. The eight teams in World Group I for 2005 are Argentina, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Russia, Spain and USA. The eight teams in World Group II for 2005 are Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Slovak Republic, Switzerland and Thailand.
The 2005 draw for the World Group I and II will take place in Moscow on 26 November 2004. First round losers in World Group I will take on the first round winners from World Group II in the Play-off Round for a place in the 2006 World Group I. Losers from the World Group II first round will take on the first round Regional Qualifying winners in a Play-off Round for a spot in the 2006 World Group II.
Fed Cup is the largest annual international team competition for women in sport. Eighty-nine nations entered the Fed Cup in 2004. For further information on Fed Cup go to the official website www.fedcup.com.
The two seeds for the draw were France and Russia. Host nation Russia was drawn into the first seeded position placing France in the second seeded position. The Mayor of Moscow Mr Yuri Luzhkov then drew Austria to play Russia and Spain to play France.
The criteria for seeding, used by the Fed Cup Committee, includes the current ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking, the rankings of players likely to participate, experience on different surfaces, experience in doubles and other pertinent information.
The draw was well attended with over 80 media and guests present. In addition to the Mayor of Moscow other local dignitaries in attendance were: Chairman of the Moscow Sports Committee Mr Sergei Korol, Vice-Mayor of Moscow Mr Valerie Shantsev and the Chairman of the Russian Federal Agency for Sports and Tourism and former ice hockey player Mr Viacheslav Fetisov.
The Fed Cup Finals will be played at the new 5,200 seat Krylatskoe Ice Stadium, with the semifinals and final taking place in the same week. Matches will be played indoors on Taraflex, the same surface used for the 2003 Fed Cup Finals. The semifinals and final will be the best of five matches: four singles and one doubles with all matches the best of three sets.
Going into the finals France is looking to defend the title it won in 2003, while Spain is bidding for a sixth Fed Cup crown. Austria and Russia - a rising force in women’s tennis - are aiming to win the competition for the first time.
This is the last year of the current Fed Cup format. From 2005, there will be an eight-team World Group I and an eight-team World Group II. All matches in the World Group will be played on a home and away basis. The eight teams in World Group I for 2005 are Argentina, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Russia, Spain and USA. The eight teams in World Group II for 2005 are Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Slovak Republic, Switzerland and Thailand.
The 2005 draw for the World Group I and II will take place in Moscow on 26 November 2004. First round losers in World Group I will take on the first round winners from World Group II in the Play-off Round for a place in the 2006 World Group I. Losers from the World Group II first round will take on the first round Regional Qualifying winners in a Play-off Round for a spot in the 2006 World Group II.
Fed Cup is the largest annual international team competition for women in sport. Eighty-nine nations entered the Fed Cup in 2004. For further information on Fed Cup go to the official website www.fedcup.com.