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Fed Cup 2013

23K views 351 replies 29 participants last post by  stromatolite 
#1 ·
So no one has mentioned the following two headlines:
- David Taylor steps down as Fed Cup captain.
- Australia plays defending champions and number 1 seeds Czech Republic in first round of 2013 competition away in Czech Republic.
 
#2 ·
http://www.fedcup.com/en/news/articles/taylor-steps-down-as-captain.aspx

David Taylor has stepped down from his position as Australia’s Fed Cup captain, stating that he wants to focus solely on coaching Sam Stosur.

The 40-year-old skipper leaves the national team in good shape after finishing his seven-year stint as Australian captain on a high after his team secured its place in World Group I with an away win over a talented German side last April.

Taylor, who acted as Fed Cup coach in 2002 and 2003 before taking the role as captain in 2006, has overseen the Australian team through highs as well as lows but leaves with a win-loss record of 15-6.

"It has been an honour to hold such a prestigious position in a great tennis nation such as ours. I am thankful to Tennis Australia and Craig Tiley for entrusting me with such an important role," said Taylor.

"I want to acknowledge the fantastic loyal support of our players with whom our elevation back to World Group I would obviously not have been possible.”

When Taylor first took the job as Fed Cup captain, Australia was competing in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I against the likes of Uzbekistan, Korea Rep. and India. He departs with his nation in the competition’s top tier facing an away trip to reigning champions Czech Republic in the first round next year.

The search for a new Fed Cup captain will begin immediately.
 
#3 ·
Good to see, can't be a Fed Cup captain and coach (well, ehad coach) of a major player. Who do we think should be the replacement? Very intersting.
 
#5 ·
^^All depends on the timing of the ties, particularly the one in May during the clay season. Sam would be reluctant to come back to Oz right in the middle of it.

You'd expect Nicole Bradtke to be a strong chance to takeover considering she has been the team coach for the last couple of years. I think Nicole Pratt is too involved in the junior program to take the role. Cant see anyone else wanting the role??
 
#8 ·
^ Not at this stage with a young family. Alicia will be a future fed Cup captain no doubt.

I hope Nicole is interested in the job and gets it. Played her best tennis in Fed Cup and you'd expect that she would bring this enthusiasm to the role.
 
#9 ·
Well it looks like Alicia has put her hand up for the job after all along with Renee Stubbs.
And (god-forbid) Todd Woodbridge is interested.

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/woodbridge-weighs-fed-cup-role-20130103-2c779.html

ALICIA Molik and Rennae Stubbs are among the confirmed candidates for the Fed Cup captaincy vacated by David Taylor last month, with the possibility of a surprise late expression of interest from Tennis Australia's head of professional tennis, Todd Woodbridge.

Applications for the role close on Friday, and may also include current Fed Cup coach Nicole Bradtke. Molik, the former world No. 8, and Stubbs, the global competition's most-capped player, appear to be the front-runners, and while Woodbridge said he had not yet applied, the former doubles star and top-20 singles player has not ruled out expanding an already busy portfolio that he also combines with Channel Seven commentary duties.

''It's interesting, because my job entails most of that role anyway,'' Woodbridge said. ''I'm already doing plenty, but we'll see what happens when we get to Friday, and about how all that looks. It's something that I wouldn't dismiss because, to be honest, I'm there anyway, I'm at the ties. I don't know that that would happen; a lot of it will come down to what the girls want. I think we've got some pretty good candidates.''

Taylor held the joint positions of Fed Cup captain and personal coach to US Open champion Sam Stosur, an arrangement that was occasionally a source of disgruntlement within the squad.

''What's important is that the girls, different to the men, like the slight separation of an athlete's current assigned coach and Fed Cup captain; they like someone who can oversee that whole area,'' Woodbridge said. ''Dave had Sam as his player and so some of the other girls sometimes thought there was a little bit of a conflict. There wasn't, they all played well together, but we won't have those issues with the person going into it now.''

Bradtke has been assured of retaining her coaching position, at least, when Australia returns to the eight-nation world group in 2013, and has previously indicated that to be the most likely scenario. Another potential candidate, Nicole Pratt, is expected to take up an expanded role at the national academy in Melbourne, working with the talented crop of emerging 13-16-year-olds.

''The goal is to get somebody in there to win the Fed Cup, because we've really got a team that could win it. We're not the favourites, but you look at the line-up and we've got Sam, and if Jarmila [Gajdosova] can get her game back on track, she can beat anybody, and you've got young Ash Barty sitting down below who's probably ready soon to move up into the team,'' Woodbridge said.

''So we've got some potential over the next three years to actually win the Fed Cup, and a huge goal of mine is to get all of that in place and really have a crack at doing that for women's tennis.''

Taylor announced last month that he wished to reduce his travel commitments and devote all his available time to continuing his successful partnership with Stosur. He departs after seven years with a 15-6 record, including an upset win over Germany in April that secured Australia's promotion from world group II. The title campaign starts against the reigning champion, the Czech Republic, in Ostrava on February 9-10.
 
#14 ·
On the subject of Toddy. Seems he's is running the whole show atm even though he was quick to handball the Tomic w/c decision. Apparently Pat Rafter is in the US atm on holiday, if you believe this: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/near-miss-as-tomic-gets-a-spot-20130105-2ca97.html

Glad our Davis Cup captain can take a breather during our home tournament swing :rolleyes: Not that we saw him about during the play-off, tho I stand to be corrected on this. Davis Cup seems a bit of a boys club atm - I wonder if you don't worship the feet of Rafter, Hewitt and co, you're on the outer.
 
#15 ·
well said as always louloubelle. I would think this incredible that Rafter be absent at this time of year when all the boys are to there giving their best. .......he should be there mentoring, scouting and creating a team atmosphere. God forbid leaving this to Todd Woodbridge who is busy commentating and not giving the players his major focus. He is all about feathering his own nest.
 
#19 ·
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/molik-takes-over-as-fed-cup-captain-20130118-2cxz4.html



Molik takes over as Fed Cup captain

Alicia Molik will succeed her former coach, David Taylor, as Australia's Fed Cup captain, after the former world No.8 was preferred to Todd Woodbridge, Rennae Stubbs and Nicole Pratt. But there will be little time to settle in, with the opening world group tie to be played against the reigning champions from the Czech Republic in Ostrava in just three weeks.

The popular Molik, 31, was unbeaten in doubles and compiled a 12-15 win-loss record in singles over 22 Federation Cup ties from 1999. She is a two-time grand slam doubles champion and Athens Olympic singles bronze medallist, now forging a media career. Nicole Bradtke will remain as Fed Cup coach.

"Dave has left big shoes to fill and I am really inspired by the challenge. It is an exciting time in Australian tennis and we have the talent in this team to produce some great results," said Molik, who acknowledged the difficulty of facing the strong Czech team away.

"Of course we go in underdogs, but undaunted. These girls showed against Germany in Germany last year that they are capable of playing wonderful tennis and winning ties that no one expects them to win."

Woodbridge, Tennis Australia's head of professional tennis, will fill a mentoring role.
"Alicia has a wealth of experience at the top level and in Fed Cup and will be a great leader for this team," he said.
"Alicia's strong and recent involvement with the tour and Fed Cup give her a great perspective for the captaincy and her personality and leadership style will be an asset for the team."
 
#20 ·
If Todd's mentoring Alicia who's mentoring Todd :confused:

Should've been Nicole's Bradtke's job I believe. Like Rafter, Molik has little experience in managing a team and getting the best of our of them.

Maybe TA prefers more high profile captains these days. :confused: Nicole Pratt seems to be too committed to our junior programs, but maybe Rennae was seen as a loose cannon. Hope they get Stubbsy involved either way.

I think the team picks themselves, albiet none go in with a great deal of form:
Sam
Jarka
Casey
Ash

Stubbsy confirmed last night during Kvitova's match that Petra will play. She'll probably join Safarova, Hradecka, Hlavackova.
 
#22 ·
I don't mind this choice. I still think she's a little young, and older players like Bradtke, Stubbs and Pratt would be a more logical choice, but Alicia is VERY popular with the players and she'd be a great calming influence during the matches.

Stubbs is far too emotional, so that may in fact hinder some of the girls at the sit downs :lol: Who knows. I still reckon Bradtke would've been my first pick, but clearly she's happy with the coaching role.

It was down to Todd (thank God he didn't get it), Pratty, Rennae and Alicia, so Bradtke didn't even apply.
 
#23 ·
I think Alicia at least deserves the benefit of the doubt on this. As TS said, her laid-back personality may make for a more relaxed team atmosphere than the more chaotic style of Stubbsy would. And in Nicole she's got a very experienced coach to support her and help her find her feet.

Tough job to get the Czechs first up though. But I suppose the nothing-to-lose nature of the tie could actually be a blessing, imagine blowing a near sure win in her first outing as captain.

And who knows, they may even pull off the miracle. I think Sam will be mightily relieved just to be out of Australia by then, and she actually showed some good form in those bits of her match against Zheng when she wasn't choking. Ash and Casey just pulled off a great win in doubles, so that might be an option to release Sam from the pressure of having to play both singles and doubles. Even Jarka is showing some signs that she might have turned a corner, and she usually thrives in the FC atmosphere. And maybe best of all, Petra and Lucie are both struggling for form atm. I know it's a long shot but stranger things have happened.
 
#25 ·
Yes, a pity that Nicole didnt apply in the end as she wouldve been the logical choice.


Its been a problematic position to hold (Bowrey, Alexander and the combination of Goolagong/Woodforde.. can attest) so hopefully Alicia has got the mettle to deal with what comes her way. So yes, the influence from Nicole will hopefully assist. Admittedly in the history of Fed Cup, Taylor's tenure was probably the least uneventful :lol:
 
#27 ·
Admittedly in the history of Fed Cup, Taylor's tenure was probably the least uneventful :lol:
Although, we shouldn't forget the absolute disaster that was the loss to ukraine at home in 2011 when Taylor played an injured Rodinova in 3 matches.
 
#30 ·
Sorry if I don't join the party but this thread is turning into a bit too much of a "let's bitch about people we don't like fest" for my liking.

Blaming DT for playing Rodionova 3 times is ridiculous. She was easily the second highest ranked singles player present at the time, and he backed her to come good. The best thing about Taylor as a captain was that he stuck by his players, and didn't sow panic by making sudden changes at the first sign of trouble. Nastya should have won both those singles matches. That she didn't win one was hardly DT's fault. Ditto for the doubles.

Not that this is a DC thread in the first place, but from where I see it Tomic was behaving like an idiot, and the suspension seems to have had a positive effect on him, so where's the problem? And why should Rafter need anybody's permission to take a holiday whenever and wherever he likes, as long as it's not during DC week?

Not saying either of these guys are perfect, but for my money it's a bit too easy to just blame them for every real and imagined thing that goes wrong.
 
#31 ·
Sorry if I don't join the party but this thread is turning into a bit too much of a "let's bitch about people we don't like fest" for my liking.

Blaming DT for playing Rodionova 3 times is ridiculous. She was easily the second highest ranked singles player present at the time, and he backed her to come good. The best thing about Taylor as a captain was that he stuck by his players, and didn't sow panic by making sudden changes at the first sign of trouble. Nastya should have won both those singles matches. That she didn't win one was hardly DT's fault. Ditto for the doubles.

Not that this is a DC thread in the first place, but from where I see it Tomic was behaving like an idiot, and the suspension seems to have had a positive effect on him, so where's the problem? And why should Rafter need anybody's permission to take a holiday whenever and wherever he likes, as long as it's not during DC week?

Not saying either of these guys are perfect, but for my money it's a bit too easy to just blame them for every real and imagined thing that goes wrong.
Take a chill pill mate. Public forum so we can make comments if we like. You may call it bitching, I believe they are constructive and justified or atleast worthy of discussion:

Australian summer swing - many players on the tour cusp who would benefit from DC captains assistance and expertise, I believe the DC captian should be around during this time,
Alicia is inexperienced and I believe may struggle in the hostorically difficult FC position,
Rodi was hampered by a hip complaint throughout the year, and I believe it was a incorrect decision to play her in 3 rubbers considering her movement was clearly restricted (particularly as I witnessed it live),
We have Rafter finally saying that he wants to sit down with Tomic, I believe he should have addressed this situation WITH Bernard as it happened straight AFTER the Germany tie, and not through 3rd parties,
And I believe Todd Woodbridge has too many fingers in too many pies to do all of his tasks effectively.

Ive been following Australian tennis for a good 30 years, forgive me if Im a little skeptical of Tennis Australia because their track record isn't too flash during this time. And I think I should be allowed to state my opinion on this forum!
 
#33 ·
By the way, I agree that these are all valid points to raise, and I don’t completely disagree with you on all of them by any means.

It’s probably true that some young players would have benefited from having Rafter around during the AO. But I wouldn’t go as far as you by saying he should have been there. He has a right to his private life as well as other legitimate interests outside his role as DC captain.

I absolutely agree that the FC captaincy is potentially difficult for somebody as inexperienced as Alicia. But as far as I can see the only other person who would have been obviously better suited to the role was Nicole Bradtke, and it seems she wasn’t even a candidate. I didn’t detect a lot of support for Nicole Pratt, and even less (to put it mildly) for Todd. So it was probably a toss-up between Alicia and Rennae. Stubbsy would bring more experience than Alicia for sure, but is also known as something of a loose cannon. They could have gone either way I think. Time will tell whether it was a wise move.

If Anastasia’s hip was an issue at the time I’m sure it was considered. It’s worth pointing out that she played a regular tournament schedule both before and after, including a few 3-setters, some of which she actually won, so she wasn’t completely incapacitated. The captain and coach didn’t have the benefit of hindsight like we do now, but had to make the call at the time. It’s not unusual for players to carry injuries on court, so they probably thought that even carrying a slight injury the extra experience of Rodi outweighed the relative inexperience of the alternatives. Easy to say after the fact that they got it wrong.

I don’t know all the details, but it’s probably true that Rafter could have handled the situation with Tomic better than he has. But not many captains have to deal with cases quite as difficult as Bernard so soon after taking over the reigns as captain. He probably thought a slap on the wrists, even at a distance, would be enough (for anybody but Bernard it would have been). That may have been a mistake, but it’s done, all he can do is move forward from the situation as it currently is. I think he’s perfectly right not to take any shit from the kid now. Better to go ahead without him than have him on board thinking he can just do whatever the fuck he wants. That’s my opinion anyway.
 
#36 ·
The Fed Cup tie was 2 years ago so i won't go on about it too much but I was there live for the whole tie and it was quite clear that Rodinova was not fit to play, she was horribly out of form and her movement looked affected. A captain should be able to tell this and pull the trigger on the enxt player, she honestly should of been ebnched after the first day she was that bad. The moment that always gets me is when they announced who was playing the doubles (and that Rodionova was playing) and the crowd let out the biggest groan you could imagine. Let me remind you this tie was played at a country club where the most noise you would get is a golf clap after each point.

And Pat is digging his own hole as far as I'm concerned.
 
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#37 · (Edited)
Maybe they should just purchase a groanometer and dispense with the captain altogether;)

Seriously, one of the things that I always admired about DT as captain is that he didn't allow himself to be swayed too much by expectations of others, he trusted his own judgment. That's what a captain should do IMO, and that's precisely the point on which I have my doubts about Alicia. She's a sweetheart, and may find it difficult to take the tough and unpopular decisions a captain has to take from time to time.

Concerning the Ukraine tie, I think you're making a bit of a caricature of the last rubber. Sure, injury was a factor, but since it wasn't completely debilitating it was just one of a range of factors. Some other things they almost certainly would have taken into account:

* the last rubber was doubles, where hampered movement is less of an issue than in singles.
* Anastasia was the most experienced and accomplished doubles player in the team. That needs to be weighed against the injury, and against the lack of experience of the alternatives. Especially in a decider it's not a crazy thing to put a lot of weight on experience.
* team spirit and player confidence is important, and one of the ways DT tried to bolster that was to back his key players to come good even after a loss, and to give his less experienced players the matches with less pressure. If Rodi said she was fit enough to play, he would take her word for that.

There may well be other factors, these are just the ones that even someone with my limited knowledge and experience can come up with. So I don't think it's quite as obvious that it was a bad decision as you guys are making it out to be.

Btw, I think it's Bernie who's digging a hole. Time will tell which of us is right, until then I'm happy to agree to disagree.
 
#38 ·
^^ Are you a PR spin doctor for Tennis Australia? It's the same with Sam's horrible losses.

Were you at the tie? Because you could see and everyone else see that Rodinova was not fit to play at all after those singles matches, she was horrific.

And Bernie might be doing some things wrong but TA have been handling the whole situation terribly through public channels. Making them look like a boys club
 
#39 ·
No I'm not a spin doctor for TA, nor for Sam:lol:. Sam played an absolute shocker against Zheng, it was a pure choke, as I made clear on the Hardcourt thread. I still don't think the losses in Brisbane and Sydney were chokes. It's the accepted wisdom these days that if Sam loses in Australia it's a choke, but I call them as I see them and I didn't think they were chokes. As I recall most of those on the tread supported that view, and you were the one determined to think the worst of Sam at all costs.

As for TA, I really don't know how their track record in general is. I do know that prior to his relatively good performances in Australia Tomic had earned a name as just about the biggest jerk in world tennis, and deservedly so. You'll have to forgive me for not siding with him against TA on that one.

As to the Ukraine tie, you keep on harping back to the same old story, that you were there and saw that she was not fit to play. You don't address the points I raised at all. I was under the impression that DT was there as well, and when I last checked he's an extremely experienced coach who doesn't suffer from brain damage. Do you seriously think that he didn't notice her injury and take it into account, together with other factors like those I mentioned?

If you want to believe I'm biased be my guest, but take a good look at yourself: at best you're no less inflexible in your opinions than I am in mine. I think you suffer from the common misconception that criticizing everything and everyone is the same as critical thinking. At least I respond to the points you raise, you just try to belittle me for not sharing your opinions.
 
#41 ·
I think the Aussies could stand a chance here :p

Kvitova, Safarova, Hlavackova and Hradecka all have had bad starts to the year. Zakopalova had a good week in china but bad weeks in AUS
I wonder who they will put on

As for Australia I also wonder who, imo it would be best to have Sam, Casey, Ash and Jarka would be the best team :)

If its indoor hard though :scared:
 
#55 ·
As for Australia I also wonder who, imo it would be best to have Sam, Casey, Ash and Jarka would be the best team :)
:
Alicia Molik agrees :) http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/barty-named-in-aussie-fed-cup-team-20130124-2d996.html

Barty named in Aussie Fed Cup team

Teenager Ashleigh Barty will be the youngest Australian Fed Cup player since Jelena Dokic in 1998 after being picked for next month's World Group quarter-final tie against defending champions the Czech Republic.

New Australian captain Alicia Molik on Thursday selected Barty, Samantha Stosur, Jarmila Gajdosova and Casey Dellacqua after the 16-year-old's inspired run to the Australian Open doubles final.

Barty and Dellacqua will play Italian top seeds Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani for the Open title at Melbourne Park on Friday and Molik said the youngster and her partner had picked themselves for Fed Cup duties.

"I believe it's a team that will win us the tie. I firmly believe that," said Molik, who has replaced her former mentor and Stosur's coach David Taylor as Australian captain.

"It's a great opportunity for Ashley. She's shown what she can do and she's ready to take a spot on the team. They're all incredibly ready."

Dokic was just 15 years and two-and-a-half months when she made her triumphant Fed Cup debut in 1998, winning both her singles matches in a 5-0 rout of Argentina in Canberra.

Dokic went on to reach world No.4 and an Australian Open quarter-final in 2009 and Molik hoped Barty's selection was a good omen for last year's junior Wimbledon champion.

"Jelena was ready," Molik said.

"I don't think it comes down really to age. It comes down to how I think developed a player is and how ready they are.

"Gosh, Ash is ready, absolutely, to play Fed Cup. That's why she's in the team.

"That's why (Australian coach) Nicole Bradtke and I decided to select her.

"Tennis - as we see on men's tennis and women's tennis - doesn't boil down to age.

"I don't think that's a great indication at all. And form is a big part of who gets to play."

The tie will be held in Ostrova on February 9-10.
 
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