2023-11-08 10:30:00
Welcome to Seville… The Andalusian city is hosting the final phase of the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup renamed in 2020) until Sunday. Unlike the boys, who once again missed the last week of Davis Cup competition this season, the French players are very present among the twelve remaining nations on the ephemeral courts planted in the heart of the “Olympic” stadium of the Cartuja. Large marquees house the five courts installed for the competition.
In their group D, Julien Benneteau’s Bleues will face Italy this Wednesday (from 10 a.m.) then Germany on Friday (from 10 a.m.). If they finish first in their group (two singles and a double to play each time), the Tricolores will qualify for the semi-finals on Saturday. The final will take place on Sunday.
L’attraction Gracheva
In this Spanish stay, the attraction is called Varvara Gracheva. Naturalized last June, the Russian by birth, 23 years old and 44th in the world, is celebrating her first blue-white-red cape with the number 57 embroidered on her tracksuit. “She has interesting potential and gives me an additional option in meetings,” explains the captain. With this kind of format, each match is super important. We are in an open group and we will do everything to try to qualify. »
Caroline Garcia, down to 20th place in the world after a difficult season, Alizé Cornet, Clara Burel and Kristina Mladenovic make up the rest of the selection. On paper, France, winner in 2019 of the last Fed Cup in the “historic” format (home/away) and placed 4th in the international rankings, seems to have the means to make its way to the last four.
An endowment of 9 million euros, as much as the men
The Italians line up Jasmine Paolini (29th), Elisabetta Cocciaretto (38th), Martina Trevisan (44th), Lucia Bronzetti (63rd) and Lucrezia Stefanini (120th). The Germans will be led by Tatjana Maria (58th), Laura Siegemund (84th), Anna-Lena Friedsam (11th), Eva Lys (114th), and Jule Niemeier (175th). But last year, diminished by absences, the French lost in Italy in the qualifying round.
“We know them well,” summarizes Caroline Garcia. They are players who play with a lot of passion, they are known for putting a lot of intensity on the pitch. It’s going to be some knife matches, that’s for sure.” The Czech Republic, Switzerland, defending champion, or the Australian finalist in 2022, will act as favorites. As for the headliners, the Kazakh Rybakina (No. 4) and the Czechs Vondrousova (No. 6) and Muchová (No. 8) will be present.
On the other hand, the Americans will not be able to count on their two best assets. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula made a choice between the improbable Women’s Masters which has just ended in Cancún, after an organization worthy of an amateur tournament, and the south of Spain.
In addition to the trophy, the world champions will receive a check for 2.4 million dollars (2.25 million euros) in an event whose total prize pool reaches 9.6 million dollars (9 million euros), i.e. the equivalent of the earnings planned for the next final phase of the Davis Cup in Malaga (November 21 to 26).
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