Pay attention to the U.S. Fed Cup team
Some of you will probably want to throw shoes at me for writing a post about Fed Cup, so here's a post about Fed Cup. Some of you many not even know what Fed Cup is, which is business as usual for the women's version of Davis Cup, which is tennis's equivalent to World Cup soccer -- except we're lucky enough to get it every year.
In just about a month, Italy and the U.S. will play for the Fed Cup title. That's the U.S., as in "us," you ask? Yep. The women have done what the Davis Cup men have failed to pull off this year -- they reached the final, and did so without anyone named Williams or Davenport in the lineup.
The Italians have lost to the U.S. nine straight times in Fed Cup competition; in fact, they've never beaten the U.S. in this event, period. But Italy has uncommon team spirit. This is the nation's third trip to the final in four years, one of which (2006) produced Italy's first and only Fed Cup trophy.
Do the Italians care? You bet. Will they be favored? You bet. Does the U.S. stand a chance? Absolutely.
The U.S. appears to have come up with the same formula that has earned Italy it's recent Fed Cup glory. The team is powered by enthusiasm, and a can-do spirit. U.S. team captain Mary Jo Fernandez has put together something like the Bad New Bears of tennis, what with Bethany Mattek-Sands, Jill Craybas, Alexa Glatch, Liezel Huber, Julie Ditty and others -- a diverse, ragtag bunch if ever there was one -- who take inspiration from each other.
The U.S. arrived at the final thanks to a pair of tough 3-2 wins eked out over Argentina (in the U.S.) and the Czech Republic (on the road). It's the kind of story that can only happen in team sports, and this team is long on grit, spirit, and, thankfully -- doubles talent. For in Fed Cup, the doubles is the fifth and potentially decisive match.
If you were to play word association and said "grit" and "spirit," quite a few tennis fans would immediately respond, "Melanie Oudin." And the little sparkplug from Georgia has figured in this year's surprising Fed Cup showing. Long before her name appeared in bold print thanks to her upset of Jelena Jankovic at Wimbledon (never mind what came this past month at Flushing Meadows), Oudin was a Fed Cup player with a significant accomplishment to her name: With the U.S. losing 2-1 in its first-round encounter with Argentina, she sent the tie into the doubles by winning the fourth singles.
The last time either Williams sister played Fed Cup was in 2007, and I'm not anticipating their return. The Italians play way above their heads (and rankings) in Fed Cup, and the tie will be on their beloved red clay. So the U.S. is facing a daunting mission (let's not forget, the Italians beat France and mighty Russia to earn their right to host the tie). But those conditions will also give Oudin a platform to shine, and we saw last month that's she's a player who responds beautifully to pressure.
The Fed Cup final has some compelling storylines. I hope somebody decides to watch them unfold.
Peter Bodo
