Th Holua Tennis Center in Kailua Kona will play host to the 2016 Fed Cup, World Group II, first round match between the United States and Poland on Feb. 6-7. The Fed Cup is the world’s largest international team competition in women’s tennis with approximately 100 nations taking part each year.
“Since 1963 the Fed Cup has been around and it is the women’s equivalent to the Davis Cup in men’s tennis,” said Jeff Ryan, the USTA Senior Director of Team Events. “It is as exciting, if not more so than some of the more traditional tournaments because the players are not competing for ranking or prize money, they are competing for country pride.”
Ryan added that the Fed Cup is extremely popular around the world, though it has not quite yet gained similar popularity within the United States.
“It doesn’t resonate like it does in some parts of the world,” Ryan said. “In other parts of the world, men and women’s tennis is extremely popular.”
The best-of-five match series between the U.S. and Poland begins on Feb 6, with two singles matches. It is followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match on Feb. 7.
U.S. Fed Cup Team Captain Mary Joe Fernandez will select the four players to represent the United States no later than ten days prior to the event. Venus Williams, who is currently ranked 13th in the world, has already expressed interest in playing in the event, Ryan said. Other players who have expressed interest including Madison Keys (No. 19) and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (No. 60).
But what about the No. 1 tennis player in the world, Serena Williams?
“Serena had a disappointing loss in the (US Open) but once she comes back into things I think we will hear from her,” Ryan said.
Poland is likely to be led by the Radwanska sisters. Agnieszka Radwanska is currently ranked No. 6 in the world, while Urszula Radwanska is ranked 90th.
“This is a chance for an area like this to see tennis that is not normally right in their backyard,” Ryan said. “These are the top players from each country and they are coming right here to Kailua-Kona.”
This is the first time that Hawaii will host the Fed Cup, becoming the 16th state to do so.
Hawaii hosted the Davis Cup at the Mauna Lani Racquet Club in the 1992 World Group First Round, where a U.S. team of Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras swept Argentina, 5-0.
Hawaii also hosts a $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit men’s Challenger in mid-January in Maui and will be joined by a $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit women’s event that same week in Maui in 2016.
“We are thrilled to bring Fed Cup to Hawaii, as the USTA continues to grow the game of tennis in communities nationwide,” said Katrina Adams, USTA Chairman of the Board, CEO, and President. “Kailua Kona will create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere for Fed Cup and is a perfect location for our players. We look forward to Hawaii fans filling the stands and coming out to cheer Team USA to victory.”
The winner of the match between the U.S. and Poland will advance to the World Group Playoff, held April 16-17, to compete for a spot in the 2017 World Group. The losing nation will play in the World Group II Playoff in April to remain in World Group II in 2017. The U.S. will compete in World Group II in 2016 for just the third time since the World Group format was instituted in 1995.
The United States holds a 3-0 record over Poland in the Fed Cup. The U.S. last faced Poland in the 1990 World Group First Round in Atlanta, sweeping the tie, 3-0. The U.S., who also faced Poland in 1974 and 1980, has never lost a point in the Fed Cup to Poland.
The United States leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles, but they have not won since 2000. Tickets for the first round match between the U.S. and Poland will go on sale on Friday, Dec. 11, with prices starting as low as $25.
“This could be a once in a decade or once in an every other decade chance to see this level of tennis being played in the area,” Ryan said. “While there is professional tennis over on Maui, those are not top-10 or top-15 players. This is a huge opportunity and we want people to come out and support it.”