Some big-name tennis players will be coming to West Hawaii next year.
Just how big remains to be seen.
The USTA announced Tuesday that Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village will host a Fed Cup match between the United State and Poland in February, the first time Hawaii has been selected as the site for the largest women’s international team competition in the sport.
“We are all excited about the opportunity to host the Fed Cup here in Hawaii,” Ron Romano, USTA Hawaii Pacific executive director said in a release. “We look forward to extending our Aloha Spirit to the players and everyone involved so they have a memorable experience.”
The Mauna Lani Racquet Club hosted the Davis Cup in 1992 in a men’s tournament that featured Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras.
U.S. Fed Cup team captain Mary Joe Fernandez will select a four-player roster no later than ten days prior to the event, and a USTA spokesperson was hopeful that Serena and Venus Williams would decide to come.
Tennis players who wish to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil must meet minimal Fed Cup requirements, but it was unclear what role that would play in the Williams sisters’ decision.
Poland is likely to be led by Agnieszka Radwanska, currently ranked No. 6 in the world.
The first-round best-of-five series begins on Feb. 6 with two singles matches. It is followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match Feb. 7.
Tickets will go on sale Dec. 11.