USA Wins Fed Cup Semifinals and Earns Hosting Rights for Finals in November

The US Fed Cup team rallied to defeat Russia, 3-2, in the 2010 Fed Cup semifinals Sunday in Birmingham and earned the right to host defending champion Italy in the Fed Cup Final, Nov. 6-7 at a site to be determined by the USTA.  It is the first time that the US will host the Fed Cup Final since 2000, which is also the last year the U.S. won the event.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands became the first American to win consecutive rubbers on the final day to lead the U.S. to victory.  With the U.S. trailing 1-2, Mattek-Sands defeated Ekaterina Makarova, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 then teamed with Liezel Huber to defeat Elena Dementieva and Alla Kudryavtseva in the decisive doubles rubber, 6-3, 6-1.  Melanie Oudin defeated Kudryavtseva Saturday in the opening rubber to give the U.S a 1-0 lead.

The USTA will select the site for the 2010 Fed Cup Final with plans to announce the venue in mid-June, pending approval from the ITF. Information about the bid process and an RFP can be found at www.usta.com/fedcup.  Parties interested in bidding to host the 2010 Fed Cup final should submit a letter of intent to the USTA by May 17.  The deadline for submitting a final bid to the USTA is June 4.