TENNIS WORLD

The ITF confirmed today that the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid will stage the final of the 2008 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas between Spain and defending champion Russia on 13-14 September. The selection of the venue is subject to a successful site visit by the ITF.The Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) had already selected the Plaza de Toros Las Ventas in Madrid as venue for the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal between Spain and USA, to be held the week after the Fed Cup Final on 19-21 September.The Fed Cup Final will be held outdoors on clay, with a seating capacity for 4000 spectators. The venue was last used in the competition in 1979, when Fed Cup was played over one week, with Tracy Austin, Chris Evert and Billie Jean King leading USA to a 3-0 final victory over Australia.Russia is bidding for its fourth victory in five years, having defeated Italy 4-0 in the 2007 final. Maria Sharapova made her Fed Cup debut in the 2008 competition, which has seen the team defeat Israel 4-1 and USA 3-2. Russia currently occupies five of the top ten places on the WTA rankings.Spain, a five-time champion, is bidding for its first title since 1998, having reached its first final since 2002. The team has scored two victories away from home, defeating Italy 3-2 and China, P.R. 4-1. Three Spanish team members performed well at 2008 Roland Garros, with Carla Suarez Navarro reaching the quarterfinals, and Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual winning the doubles titleSpain and Russia have met five times in Fed Cup, with Russia leading the head-to-head 4-1, including a 5-0 World Group first round victory over Spain in 2007. Start times, ticket information and further details will become available on www.fedcup.com.^ Back to Top