LADYDRAGON.COM - Fed Cup World Group, 2009 Semifinal Czech Republic and USA

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Wednesday April 22, 2009

Fed Cup World Group, 2009 Semifinal Czech Republic and USA

Starobrno Rondo Arena, Brno, Czech Republic
Stadium Capacity: 4250
25 April - 26 April 2009
Day 1: 1330 hrs (1130 hrs GMT)
Day 2: 1200 hrs (1000 hrs GMT)
Surface: Hard (Acrylic) - Indoors
Ball Type: Wilson Australian Open

Team Czech Republic

Iveta BENESOVA

Petra KVITOVA

Lucie SAFAROVA

Kveta PESCHKE

Team Captain
Petr PALA

Team USA

Bethanie MATTEK-SANDS

Liezel HUBER

Melanie OUDIN

Alexa GLATCH

Team Captain
Mary-Joe FERNANDEZ

USA travels to Czech Republic with an 8-2 record in previous ties between the two nations (including ties against Czechoslovakia). Since the division of Czechoslovakia in 1992, the Czechs have lost both meetings with USA.

Czechoslovakia won 5 Fed Cups, most recently in 1988, while the USA has won 17 titles, although its last title dates back to 2000.

The Czechs are contesting their first semifinal since 1997, while USA is in the last four for the fifth year running as it looks to reach its first final since 2003.

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is the world’s leading professional sport for women with more than 2,200 players representing 96 nations competing for more than $86 million in prize money at the Tour’s 51 events and four Grand Slams in 31 countries. More than 4.8 million people attended women’s tennis events in 2008 with millions more watching events on television networks around the world. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season concludes with the Sony Ericsson Championships – Doha 2009 in Doha, Qatar, from October 27-November 1, and the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali, Indonesia from November 4-8. Further information on the Tour can be found on the Internet at www.sonyericssonwtatour.com