Tennis Industry News

The USTA announced that the city of San Diego and the San Diego Sports Arena have been selected to host the 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final between the United States and Italy, Nov. 6-7.  This will mark the first time the Fed Cup Final has been played in the United States since 2000, when the U.S. won their record 17th Fed Cup title. 
 
“We are very excited that San Diego will be hosting the 2010 Fed Cup Final,” said U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez, who has led the team to consecutive World Group Finals in her first two seasons as captain.  “The area always has been supportive of women’s tennis.  We look forward to playing in front of a large, enthusiastic, and patriotic crowd and hope to use the home-court advantage as we try to bring the Fed Cup title back to the U.S.”
 
“We could not be more proud of our Fed Cup team’s achievement of reaching the final for a second consecutive year” said Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “We look forward to bringing this world-class event to San Diego, a city with a long and rich tennis history. With the help of San Diego’s wonderful and enthusiastic fans, we look forward to adding another chapter to that history by winning the 2010 Fed Cup title.”
 
The event is being organized, staged and promoted by the USTA. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale to the general public beginning in August.  For more information, fans can call the U.S. Fed Cup hotline at (888) 334-8782 or visit www.usta.com/fedcup .
 
The 2010 Fed Cup Final was one of the most sought-after tennis events ever in the U.S.  San Diego was one of 10 cities to bid for the opportunity to host the event.
 
“We’re enormously proud of this opportunity to host such a world-class sporting event,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.  “Not only is this terrific news for all tennis lovers in San Diego, but it also gives us a chance to showcase the vibrancy of this great city to the international community.”
 
This will be the second consecutive Fed Cup Final (and 11th overall meeting) between the U.S. and Italy.  The Italians, who are expected to be led by 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, are in the Fed Cup Final for the fourth time in five years.  The U.S. leads the overall series 9-1, but Italy defeated the U.S., 4-0 in the 2009 Fed Cup Final in Reggio Calabria, Italy. The U.S. is 35-3 all-time in Fed Cup ties played in the U.S., and is 6-1 in Fed Cup Finals played at home.

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sports, with 87 nations entered in 2010.  The U.S. leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles – the last coming in 2000 – and is one of eight nations competing for the 2010 Fed Cup title as part of the World Group.  The Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage of the U.S. vs. Italy Fed Cup final.