This April, the U.S. Fed Cup team is looking to maintain World Group status for 2014 with a tough playoff match against Sweden.
It will do down at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
The word has come down, as the USTA announced today that the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla., has been selected as the site for the 2013 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Playoff against Sweden. The dates are April 20 and 21.
“Delray Beach has a strong history of hosting Fed Cup competition, so we know that the fans will come out to cheer on the U.S. team to victory,” said U.S. Fed Cup Team Captain Mary Joe Fernandez. “The team fought hard on the road in the first round in Italy, so we are excited to play at home this time and take on Sweden. There is nothing like playing Fed Cup in front of a patriotic crowd.”
Ticket information will be announced in the near future. Fans can call the U.S. Fed Cup hotline at (888) 334-8782 or visit www.usta.com/fedcup to receive the latest information.
Local sponsors include the City of Delray Beach, Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The matches will be shown on Tennis Channel
“Our city is proud to host Fed Cup,” said Thomas Carney, Delray Beach Mayor. “We are known for our hospitality and top-rated sports facilities. This event is a win for Fed Cup and a win for Delray Beach. Our community is excited to show the world what a great place this is.”
The winner of this match will advance to the 2014 World Group and have a chance to compete for the Fed Cup title next year. The loser will be relegated to World Group II in 2014. The U.S. has a variety of players that could be available to play including the Williams' Sisters, Varvara Lepchenko, and Christina McHale.
This is the fifth matchup between the U.S. and Sweden in Fed Cup competition with the U.S. leading the series, 3-1. The two nations last faced each other in the second round of 1988 World Group competition, where the Swedes won, 2-1.
The Swedes are expected to counter the U.S. with a top-50 player in Sofia Arvidsson and Johanna Larsson.
This will be the fourth Fed Cup tie played in Florida and the third played at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, making it the only venue to host a U.S. Fed Cup tie on three occasions.
The U.S. is 36-4 all-time in Fed Cup ties played at home.
The best-of-five match series begins on Saturday, April 20, with two singles matches and is followed by two reverse singles matches and the doubles match on Sunday, April 21.
The site selection is subject to final approval by the International Tennis Federation.
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