I'm always fascinated by the questions that are not asked--not even raised--disallowed from mere contemplation:

While the ITF deliberates Serena Williams' possible ban from the AO--what about the Fed Cup final? That's under ITF's exclusive jurisdiction. Will we see the Italy tie won by a player suspended from Slams for misbehavior? Make sure that the States can hoist the Cup as putative proof of Yankee dominance over global women's tennis--a notion laughable on its very face?

Stay tuned. 

Aha! Both Sisters Outta Fed Cup!

31 Oct 2009
Williams out, King given chance
Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final between Italy and USA, taking place in Reggio Calabria on 7-8 November. Williams, who has been competing at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, will be replaced by Vania King. King made her Fed Cup by BNP Paribas debut against Germany in 2006 and has played in five ties, compiling a win-loss record of 4-5. She currently holds world rankings of No. 78 in singles and No. 32 in doubles. King, 20, has won seven career doubles titles, two of which coming this year in Brisbane and New York. On the singles court, her sole tournament victory came in Bangkok in 2006. Captained by Mary Joe Fernandez, USA’s team will now be King, Melanie Oudin, Alexa Glatch and Liezel Huber, the world’s top doubles player. http://www.fedcup.com/news/newsarticle.asp?articleid=12563 Teams: http://www.fedcup.com/ties/tie.asp?tie=100012361 The FED CUP final will be played on clay at the Rocco Polimeni club in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy on Nov 7 and 8. http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=54412&part=sports Streams appear after 05:00 Sat Nov 7.

paul_pipkin:

I'm always fascinated by the questions that are not asked--not even raised--disallowed from mere contemplation:

While the ITF deliberates Serena Williams' possible ban from the AO--what about the Fed Cup final? That's under ITF's exclusive jurisdiction. Will we see the Italy tie won by a player suspended from Slams for misbehavior? Make sure that the States can hoist the Cup as putative proof of Yankee dominance over global women's tennis--a notion laughable on its very face?

Stay tuned. 

By Charles Bricker on Bob Larson's Tennis News (after detailing the long Williams indifference to Fed Cup):

If you're among the few paying attention to Fed Cup, you know neither of the sisters has played in the first two rounds of 2009. Then, after the U.S. reached the championship with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Alexa Glatch, Melanie Oudin, Jill Craybas and the No. 1 doubles player in the world, Liezel Huber, Serena and Venus announced: "We're available for the final."

As good as the sisters are, Captain Mary Joe Fernandez should have told them, "Thanks for the offer. But we reached the finals with these players and, even if we're underdogs, I think they deserve the right to play the final."

By the way, if you ever get a chance to talk with Liezel Huber, who became a naturalized citizen from South Africa three years ago, ask her what it means to play Fed Cup for the United States. You'll soon know she's the female Cup version of Andy Roddick. This final means a great deal to her. It certainly doesn't mean much to the Williams sisters.

Hear, hear. While you probably wouldn't see that in print had they not withdrawn, it does speak the minds of very many American fans.

 

 Final -- Sat Nov 7 - Sun, Nov 8: Italy-USA -- on clay at the Rocco Polimeni club in Reggio Calabria on the Messina Strait.

The Fed Cup site offers its own live stream (for about $10) but it is unavailable in the US, UK, France & a couple of other places. The Italian host broadcaster is RAI--and maybe shown on that "Supertennis" stream. raisport+ has various online portals. I'll post some linx later if the source pages are insufficient.

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=54412&part=sports Streams appear early Sat Nov 7.

RAI Sports
Day 1 :07/11/09	11:00 LIVE CET (10:00 GMT) [05:00 EST]
Day 2 :08/11/09	11:00 LIVE CET (10:00 GMT) [05:00 EST]

International broadcasters include (US) Tennis Channel, RTR & NTV+ in Russia, GIP in Germany, Sport Tv in Portugal, GO SP +4 in Malta & TDM - Teledifusao de Macau. Also France Sport +, South Africa SuperSport, India NEO Sports & Great Britain Sky Sports Xtra.

http://www.fedcup.com/ties/tvschedule.asp?tie=100012361 Several of those typically produce streams.

 

Let’s remember the best moments of Masha’s at Fed Cup. When Masha is present, we always win.

I like this music&video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czLrv9_tThU

                         

---

The former U.S. figure-skating champion; Kwan reminded the children that hard work and persistence are a large part of the success of athletes like herself or Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin or former Wimbeldon champion Maria Sharapova — both Russian natives.
"Keep on working hard, and your dreams — such a great thing — will come true," Kwan said "A lot of my dreams came true."

Yuri Yudkin, 73, was Maria's first coach when she was 4-7. He said. "[Maria] was a very smart girl . . . I never had to repeat instructions twice to her."

http://sochi2014.com/

That is good. Yet, Masha's greatest Fed Cup moment thus far came a few months later at Ramat Ha'Sharon (Tsipa, Israel).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SD4ffNT74k plus Related Videos. These are the images that the media (as well as Maria's own Western agents) want you to forget. I've seen countless articles citing the 2008 AO and Doha with no reference whatsoever to the Fed Cup tie between them.

Unprepared for the crowd's sneak attack, Safina suffered a meltdown. Then Masha, emblazoned with the Russian eagle, took the court. Smiling sweetly but cold & pure as ice, she demolished her opponent. Anna C, inspired by Masha, launched the famous Chak-Attack with Maria's enthusiastic support. Repeatedly, Masha struck back on behalf of her Motherland, sending the crowd into further paroxysms when she quietly shushed them, then masterfully told off Pe'er the way the mob's cheerleader deserved.

From being a skeptic, emo Chaki developed a virtual crush. This was the moment when the lie was given to all the trash-talk slandering Maria's national identity. Hell no, the commentariat doesn't want us to remember--but we must & keep on telling the story.

           

Italian team is very strong. Flavia Pennetta above all. I think they could win. After all, Italy hasn't won nothing since 1976, they would merit this victory.

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Фëдор Достоевский: “Mиp cпасëт красота”
Fëdor Dostoevskij:" La beauté sauvera le monde"

paul_pipkin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SD4ffNT74k plus Related Videos. These are the images that the media (as well as Maria's own Western agents) want you to forget. I've seen countless articles citing the 2008 AO and Doha with no reference whatsoever to the Fed Cup tie between them.

 

As a Russian citizen who lived in other countries, I know very well what I feel for my country and people. Any Western Agents can't change my love for my country&parents. Only a traitor who likes money more than anything in life can hate his own country. If other people love their country and people, let me love my country and people.

         

---

The former U.S. figure-skating champion; Kwan reminded the children that hard work and persistence are a large part of the success of athletes like herself or Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin or former Wimbeldon champion Maria Sharapova — both Russian natives.
"Keep on working hard, and your dreams — such a great thing — will come true," Kwan said "A lot of my dreams came true."

Yuri Yudkin, 73, was Maria's first coach when she was 4-7. He said. "[Maria] was a very smart girl . . . I never had to repeat instructions twice to her."

http://sochi2014.com/

And that is precisely one of my points. Over here, you notice that too many Americans apply the term "patriots" only to themselves. Everyone else in the world seem to be mere "nationalists". OTOH, do not assume I hate my countrymen because I subject them to hard criticism. If I did not care, I wouldn't waste time or attention. There is no particular money in such criticism. lol! At the same time, don't feel all Americans are your enemy. When Hillary Clinton early last year exposed her hostility towards Russia, it helped doom her presidential candidacy. You have many friends in the States--just don't expect to hear our voices in the establishment's lap-dog media.  

Dartagnan:

paul_pipkin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SD4ffNT74k plus Related Videos. These are the images that the media (as well as Maria's own Western agents) want you to forget. I've seen countless articles citing the 2008 AO and Doha with no reference whatsoever to the Fed Cup tie between them.

 

As a Russian citizen who lived in other countries, I know very well what I feel for my country and people. Any Western Agents can't change my love for my country&parents. Only a traitor who likes money more than anything in life can hate his own country. If other people love their country and people, let me love my country and people.

         

le maitre couturier:

Italian team is very strong. Flavia Pennetta above all. I think they could win. After all, Italy hasn't won nothing since 1976, they would merit this victory.

This would be the time. The Italians are not spring chicks and Barazzutti doesn't have a lotta depth to draw on for the immediate future.

I doubt the American youngsters can equal the Italian veterans yet, but the kids have gotten to the final by dent of their own good efforts and I'm confident they'll do us proud.

BTW, I've noticed a marked vagueness as to exactly when Venus Williams withdrew--supposed to be about a week before Serena, but I didn't see it reported until Serena dropped (four days after she accepted.) There's more than meets the eye & I suspect it's coming down from ITF.

Interview of Sharapova before final 2007 Fed cup , Moscow

Sorry it is in Russian:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdFmCXiM2x8

        

 

---

The former U.S. figure-skating champion; Kwan reminded the children that hard work and persistence are a large part of the success of athletes like herself or Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin or former Wimbeldon champion Maria Sharapova — both Russian natives.
"Keep on working hard, and your dreams — such a great thing — will come true," Kwan said "A lot of my dreams came true."

Yuri Yudkin, 73, was Maria's first coach when she was 4-7. He said. "[Maria] was a very smart girl . . . I never had to repeat instructions twice to her."

http://sochi2014.com/

(AP) – 1 hour ago

REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy — Alexa Glatch of the United States will open against Flavia Pennetta in the Fed Cup final against Italy.

Glatch beat Pennetta 6-1, 6-1 in their only previous meeting in the first round of this year's French Open.

Italy's No. 2 player, Francesca Schiavone, will face U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin in the second singles match Saturday on the clay courts at the Rocco Polimeni club.

Schiavone and the 18-year-old Oudin have also met once before, with Schiavone winning 6-1, 6-1 in Indian Wells, Calif., last year.

Reverse singles are set for Sunday, plus a possible decisive doubles match featuring Italy's Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci against Liezel Huber and Vania King.

The draw for the best-of-five series was released Friday.

 

I think Flavia will win the first, I'm not sure about the result of the match between Schiavone & Oudin, I think Francesca's stronger but if Melanie plays like played at the U.S.Open it would be a beautiful match.

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Фëдор Достоевский: “Mиp cпасëт красота”
Fëdor Dostoevskij:" La beauté sauvera le monde"

Glatch just not fast enough to keep up on those passing & drop shots.

Mel is doing well enough, 4-2, but neither can get any rythym having to run on & off the court in the rain. We will see when the rain stops.

Flavia won 6-3 6-1 the first match against Glatch. Italy-U.S.A. 1-0

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Фëдор Достоевский: “Mиp cпасëт красота”
Fëdor Dostoevskij:" La beauté sauvera le monde"