Fed Cup Final: Italy v. Russia

[Moxie]

Italy won their first two ties v. Russia today.

http://www.fedcup.com/en/home.aspx

 

[Moxie]

Italy wins their 4th title, 4-0. Auguri alle Azzurre!

 

[ozza]

Has to be one of the most anti-climatic Fed Cup finals. Once the Russian team was revealed, it was as good as over before a ball was even hit.

Something went on with the Russia team, I am sure we will hear more in the future, but there's more to it than what has been said publicly imo.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Alexandra Panova
Irina Khromacheva
Alisa Kleybanova
Margarita Gasparyan

Those are the name of the players the Russians sent to the Finals of Fed-Cup!

What happened to the rest of the Ladies?
Kirilenko?
Kuzentsova?
Makarova?
Vesnina?
Pavly?
Petrova...

You know, Panova is ranked 136, the rest of those ladies the Russians sent aren't even close to top 200!

Did the Ladies went on a strike?
Were they all injured?
Were the Russinas making a mockery of the Fed Cup Finals?
Were the Russians forfeiting the games?

 

[Moxie]

Link to our news feed on this:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/news/errani-leads-italy-to-fed-cup-over-russia-halep-wins-in-sofia/

Clearly, Russia didn't field their best. Would be interesting to know the politics behind that.

 

[rubydo]

Hmm, I follow the Russian ladies quite closely and this mystifies me as to what actually transpired behind the "Kremlin" tennis walls. Kirilenko was out due to that nagging left knee, but the rest of the team, that is up for speculation. Never heard of injuries from any of the others main Russian ladies. I sense the word boycott of the finals here, for what reason, that is what we have to find out. From Russia with "no love loss."

 

[ozza]

Alexandra Panova
Irina Khromacheva
Alisa Kleybanova
Margarita Gasparyan

Those are the name of the players the Russians sent to the Finals of Fed-Cup!

What happened to the rest of the Ladies?
Kirilenko?
Kuzentsova?
Makarova?
Vesnina?
Pavly?
Petrova...

You know, Panova is ranked 136, the rest of those ladies the Russians sent aren't even close to top 200!

Did the Ladies went on a strike?
Were they all injured?
Were the Russinas making a mockery of the Fed Cup Finals?
Were the Russians forfeiting the games?

The official reasons ranged from being injured to wanting to play Sofia for ranking purposes, or even play WTA $125k's for ranking purposes.

Kirilenko? Injured (but played then retired in Sofia)
Kuzentsova? No real official reason given
Makarova? Injured (but played YEC doubles)
Vesnina? Sofia
Pavly? Sofia
Petrova? Injured (but played YEC doubles)

There is a lot more than has been reported though in my opinion. The most telling evidence was Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Vesnina both retweeted an article about 10 days ago that was about Tarpischev getting re-elected in his Russian Tennis Federation spot by a vote of 108-0, and the whole system being corrupt. That is the closest we've come to there being more than what is being said in the media, but even without this at least to me it seems obvious something is up.

I am just finding it hard to believe the players who worked to get them to the Fed Cup final suddenly decide they want to play Sofia, which is hardly the most prestigious event rather than the Fed Cup final, and get a potential Fed Cup on their resume.

Its been hinted with regards to Kuznetsova that she made herself available for Fed Cup duty at the start of the season, but was told she wasn't needed. Can take some conclusions from that.

Anyway the Fed Cup has been moved back a week next year so it doesn't clash with the 'Tournament of Champions' anymore.

 

[Moxie]

Intriguing. Thanks for the intel, Ozza, and the update on next year's calendar.

 

[rubydo]

I have come to the say conclusion Ozza, that something is certainly going on regarding Tarpischev's unanimous re-election. Elena and Sveta are two of the most accomplished Russians, especially when it comes to Fed Cup, so they must have felt something very odorous going on, to skip the event. Thanks for your fine overall update on this compelling situation.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Anyway the Fed Cup has been moved back a week next year so it doesn't clash with the 'Tournament of Champions' anymore.

Isnt that the YEC week in Singapore? What if a player needs to play in Singapore?

 

[ozza]

Anyway the Fed Cup has been moved back a week next year so it doesn't clash with the 'Tournament of Champions' anymore.

Isnt that the YEC week in Singapore? What if a player needs to play in Singapore?

YEC is the week before Tournament of Champions as normal.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Anyway the Fed Cup has been moved back a week next year so it doesn't clash with the 'Tournament of Champions' anymore.

Isnt that the YEC week in Singapore? What if a player needs to play in Singapore?

YEC is the week before Tournament of Champions as normal.

So YEC and fed cup are in same week? whats good in that?

 

[ozza]

Anyway the Fed Cup has been moved back a week next year so it doesn't clash with the 'Tournament of Champions' anymore.

Isnt that the YEC week in Singapore? What if a player needs to play in Singapore?

YEC is the week before Tournament of Champions as normal.

So YEC and fed cup are in same week? whats good in that?

I meant Fed Cup is the week after Tournament of Champions when I said moved back.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Got it now, thanks