For Immediate Release: 10/4/2011 1:49 pm
Worcester, MA (October 4, 2011) - The USTA announced today that the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, has been selected as the site for the 2012 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II First Round tie between the United States and Belarus, February 4-5.
Thirteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams has already committed to play for the United States Fed Cup Team in 2012, while current world No. 4 Victoria Azarenka is expected to compete for Belarus.
"The DCU Center will be a great venue for this very important match and Serena’s return to the US Fed Cup Team. Belarus will be a tough opponent and we will need our fans to come out in numbers and be loud to give us the home court advantage," said US Fed Cup Team Captain Mary Joe Fernandez. "One of the last Fed Cup matches I played was in Boston, so I know firsthand that this area has and will embrace the competition."
The event is being organized, staged and promoted by the USTA. Tickets information will be available at a later date. Fans can call the US Fed Cup hotline at (888) 334-8782 or visit www.usta.com/fedcup to receive the latest ticket information.
"Worcester eagerly awaits the opportunity to cheer on the United States in February during the 2012 Fed Cup," said Worcester City Manager, Michael O’Brien. "Opportunities to work with organizations like the United States Tennis Association puts Worcester on an international stage. This is a 'grand slam' for the City, our hotels and our downtown."
"We are honored to be chosen as the host site for such a prestigious event and equally excited to see the return of top professional women’s tennis to Worcester in more than 20 years," said Sandy Dunn, General Manager, DCU Center.
The World Group II first round will mark the first-ever matchup between the US and Belarus in Fed Cup competition. The winner of this match will advance to the World Group Playoff and play for a chance to be compete for the Fed Cup title in 2013. The loser will compete in the World Group II Playoff and will either maintain its status in World Group II for the following year or be relegated to zonal competition.
This will be the first home tie for the US since the 2010 Fed Cup Final in San Diego, where the team lost to Italy. In 2011, the US played away ties in Belgium and Germany. The US is 35-4 all-time in Fed Cup ties played at home.
This will be the third Fed Cup tie played in Massachusetts and first since the US defeated the Czech Republic, 5-0, in the 2003 World Group first round at the Paul E. Tsongas Arena in Lowell. The US Fed Cup Team is undefeated in Massachusetts, with the other win coming in the 1997 quarterfinal against Japan in Boston.
Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage of the United States vs. Belarus Fed Cup World Group II First Round.
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the world’s largest annual international women’s team competition with 90 countries competing in 2011. The United States leads all nations with 17 Fed Cup titles, the last coming in 2000. For more information, including access to player and historical Fed Cup records, please go to www.usta.com.
Wilson is the official ball of the US Fed Cup Team.
