The United States’ Fed Cup captain, Mary Joe Fernandez, compiled an elite group of Americans to represent the red, white, and blue next weekend in Fed Cup action. Madison Keys, Coco Vandeweghe, Christina McHale, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands will face a feisty Australian team in the World Group playoffs for a spot in the World Group for 2017.
Keys Headlines Nominations
Madison Keys is the highest ranked singles player on the American team. Her recent, streaky form has resulted in up-and-down results. Earlier this year, she began working with Jesse Levine and started the season with a bang by reaching the second week of the Australian Open. Despite a run to the quarterfinals in Miami, recently she has fallen in early stages to players she deemed the overwhelming favorite against. Her style of hard-hitting, fearless tennis has caused inconsistent performances.
On a positive note, the American 21-year-old has the ability to play stellar, top-ten-like tennis when she is striking the ball with the right amount of spin. Although she holds a 2-3 Fed Cup record, she has not played Fed Cup since 2014. With Keys playing the tennis of her life these past two years and her successful tennis down under will give her confidence going into the away tie in Brisbane.
Indian Wells Doubles Champions Among Team
This year’s BNP Paribas Open women’s doubles champions, Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, will take the red clay court next weekend to represent the USA. Vandeweghe currently holds a top-40 singles ranking, as well as a top-20 doubles ranking. Most of her success has come on the grass courts, with clay being her worst surface. But her kick serve combined with her depth on her heavy ground strokes will effectively work in her advantage. Despite having not won a singles Fed Cup rubber, she is no stranger to pressure with her many experiences on tour.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands is at a great place with her tennis. Currently, she holds a top-three doubles ranking, top-100 singles ranking, and has won the Indian Wells-Miami double this year. The intriguing personality will without a doubt be set to play in the doubles rubber for the Americans. Mattek-Sands has yet to lose a Fed Cup doubles match in her career and her recent tennis gives her no reason to not win. A talented team of successful doubles players await, but the athleticism and volleying skills from the doubles world number three overshadows the rest of the competition.
McHale Finishes List Of Nominations
Christina McHale has stayed steady throughout her few years on tour, but she has yet to break through big. She has racked up four Fed Cup wins and signs of recent form hints towards a more successful season for the 23-year-old. She recently took out Garbine Muguruza and pushed the world number one, Serena Williams to three sets. Her solid ball-striking and positive on-court attitude makes her a great asset to the team as they need an optimistic outlook throughout the tie.
American Hopes
The United States team contains great depth and variety. Despite not being the seeded team, they deem the favorite over their Aussie opponents. With a solid performance, the power and placement of Fernandez’s team will no doubted result in an American triumph.