tennisnet.com WTA › Billie Jean King Cup

Fed Cup - From 2020 no "Barty Party" anymore

The Fed Cup final between Australia and France in Perth will be the last of its kind for a long time. From the coming year, the winning team will be determined in the one-week tournament mode.

by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 12, 2019, 07:47 pm

In 2020, up to twelve away teams could celebrate
© Getty Images
In 2020, up to twelve away teams could celebrate

By Jens Huiber from London

Babsi Schett arrived late from Australia, the ATP Finals in London are the last major contract that the Tyrolean resident of Down Under still meets this year. Schett is responsible for all Grand Slams, the Laver Cup, as ambassador, as well as several tournaments such as Linz or St. Petersburg. And, of course, followed closely what happened on Saturday and Sunday in Perth: The Fed Cup final namely, in front of almost sold out house, nearly 28,000 people have watched the match between Australia and France.

An extraordinarily high number, owed of course also Ashleigh Barty, the number one in the world, on Sunday, however, after their single with Sam Stosur also lost the doubles. A pity for the Australians, Schett was nevertheless impressed by the popularity. Which will probably not exist at a final tournament in the style of the Davis Cup. In the coming year Budapest will be played, twelve teams will start, the women will know this mode, also Babsi Schett has proved herself in her time. Only the big tennis nations could handle this, Australia would naturally be one of them.

Only Nadal with home advantage

And that's why it's true what Dominic Thiem did on Sunday night in London: That his girlfriend Kristina Mladenovic made history. As the woman who has led France with three points and a little help in the pair run by Caroline Garcia to the last classically played title. If "Kiki" also come to the British capital? He did not know that, according to Thiem, the French team was still busy celebrating.

The Davis Cup final tournament in Madrid next week will probably be groundbreaking for how the women's 2020 in Budapest could feel. In an interview with tennisnet, Pierre-Hugue's Herbert expressed his skepticism that the classic Davis Cup feeling could occur in 17 out of 18 nations. The Spaniard with Rafael Nadal, who first has to test his health, which maybe already. But the mood in Germany against Chile? Who knows.

2020 final tournament in Budapest

The women had last attempted a final four in Moscow in 2004, Russia against France brought the Fed Cup title. In Budapest, Timea Babos will and must be the local workhorse. Is that enough to fill the ranks? Especially since it is not sure if the Hungarians belong to the twelve chosen teams. And whether the ITF can make the event, which is held to ashes, so attractive that the big nations can motivate even their best players? After all, the date is much cheaper than that of the men: The women play their Fed Cup champions before the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, as an introduction to the clay court season, so to speak.

It will turn out. It can be assumed, however, that in the near future something like the, ultimately miserable, "Barty Party" will no longer exist.

by Jens Huiber

Tuesday
Nov 12, 2019, 08:39 pm
last edit: Nov 12, 2019, 07:47 pm