The 2018 Fed Cup was the 56th edition of the most important tournament between national teams in women's tennis. The 2018 Fed Cup was expected to feature some structural changes, including a 16-team World Group and the introduction of a Final Four event at a neutral, predetermined location.[1] However, the ITF announced shortly before their annual meeting that they were tabling a vote on the changes for at least one year.[2]
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 February – 11 November |
| Edition | 56th |
| Achievements (singles) | |
← 2017 2019 → | |
In one of the biggest shocks in the tournament history, Russia was demoted to the Zonal Groups for the first time in two decades, after consecutive losses to Slovakia and Latvia.[3]
The final took place on 10–11 November and was won by the Czech Republic.[4][5]
World Group
edit| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Belarus |
 Belgium |
 Czech Republic |
 France |
 Germany |
 Netherlands |
 Switzerland |
 United States |
Seeds
edit
Belarus (quarterfinals)
United States (final)
Czech Republic (champions)
France (semifinals)
Draw
edit| Quarterfinals 10–11 February | Semifinals 21–22 April | Final 10–11 November | |||||||||||
| Minsk, Belarus (hard, indoor)[6] | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Belarus | 2 | |||||||||||
| Stuttgart, Germany (clay, indoor)[10] | |||||||||||||
 Germany | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Germany | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Prague, Czech Republic (hard, indoor)[7] | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Czech Republic | 4 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Czech Republic | 3 | |||||||||||
| Prague, Czech Republic (hard, indoor)[12] | |||||||||||||
 Switzerland | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Czech Republic | 3 | |||||||||||
| La Roche-sur-Yon, France (hard, indoor)[8] | |||||||||||||
| 2 | United States | 0 | |||||||||||
 Belgium | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Aix-en-Provence, France (clay, indoor)[11] | |||||||||||||
| 4 | France | 3 | |||||||||||
| 4 | France | 2 | |||||||||||
| Asheville, United States (hard, indoor)[9] | |||||||||||||
| 2 | United States | 3 | |||||||||||
 Netherlands | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | United States | 3 | |||||||||||
World Group play-offs
editThe four losing teams in the World Group first round ties and four winners of the World Group II ties will compete in the World Group play-offs for spots in the 2019 World Group.
| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia |
Belarus |
Belgium |
 Italy |
| Netherlands |
 Romania |
 Slovakia |
Switzerland |
Seeds
edit| Venue | Surface | Home team | Score | Visiting team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minsk, Belarus | Hard (i) | Belarus
|
3–2 |  Slovakia
|
| Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Clay (i) |  Romania
|
3–1 | Switzerland
|
| Wollongong, Australia | Hard (i) |  Australia
|
4–1 | Netherlands
|
| Genoa, Italy | Clay |  Italy
|
0–4 | Belgium
|
World Group II
edit| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia |
 Canada |
Italy |
Romania |
 Russia |
Slovakia |
 Spain |
 Ukraine |
Seeds
edit| Venue | Surface | Home team | Score | Visiting team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bratislava, Slovakia | Hard (i) | Slovakia |
4–1 |  Russia
|
| Canberra, Australia | Grass | Australia |
3–2 |  Ukraine
|
| Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Hard (i) | Romania |
3–1 |  Canada
|
| Chieti, Italy | Clay (i) | Italy |
3–2 |  Spain
|
World Group II play-offs
editThe four losing teams in the World Group II ties and four winners of the zonal Groups I are scheduled to compete in the World Group II play-offs for spots in the 2019 World Group II.
| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada |
 Great Britain |
 Japan |
 Latvia |
 Paraguay |
Russia |
Spain |
Ukraine |
Seeds
edit| Venue | Surface | Home team | Score | Visiting team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | Clay (i) | Russia
|
2–3 |  Latvia
|
| Cartagena, Spain | Clay | Spain
|
3–1 |  Paraguay
|
| Montreal, Canada | Hard (i) | Canada
|
3–2 | Ukraine
|
| Miki, Japan | Hard (i) |  Japan
|
3–2 |  Great Britain
|
Americas Zone
editGroup I
editLocation: Club Internacional de Tenis, Asunción, Paraguay (clay)
Dates: 7–10 February
- Participating teams
Play-offs
edit- Paraguay was promoted to the 2018 Fed Cup World Group II play-offs.
Venezuela and 
Guatemala were relegated to Americas Zone Group II in 2019.
Group II
editVenue 1: Club Deportivo La Asunción, Metepec, Mexico (hard)
Venue 2: Centro Nacional de Tenis de la FET, Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay)
Dates: 20–23 June and 18–21 July
|
|
Play-offs
editAsia/Oceania Zone
editGroup I
editVenue: R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex, New Delhi, India (hard)
Dates: 7–10 February
- Participating teams
Play-offs
edit- Japan was promoted to the 2018 Fed Cup World Group II play-offs.
Chinese Taipei and 
Hong Kong were relegated to Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in 2019.
Group II
editVenue: Bahrain Polytechnic, Isa Town, Bahrain (hard)
Dates: 6–10 February
- Participating teams
|
|
Play-offs
edit
Indonesia and Pacific Oceania were promoted to Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in 2019.
Europe/Africa Zone
editGroup I
editVenue: Tallink Tennis Centre, Tallinn, Estonia (indoor hard)
Dates: 7–10 February
- Participating teams
|
|
Play-offs
edit- Great Britain and Latvia were promoted to the 2018 Fed Cup World Group II play-offs.
Austria and 
Portugal were relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2019.
Group II
editVenue: Tatoi Club, Athens, Greece (clay)
Dates: 18–21 April
- Participating teams
Play-offs
edit
Greece and 
Denmark were promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2019.
Egypt and 
Norway were relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group III in 2019.
Group III
editVenue 1: Cité Nationale Sportive, Tunis, Tunisia (hard)
Venue 2: Ulcinj Bellevue, Ulcinj, Montenegro (clay)
Dates: 16–21 April
- Participating teams
|
|
|
Play-offs
edit
Tunisia and 
South Africa were promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2019.
References
edit- ^ "ITF launches next phase of international team competition strategy". FedCup.com. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "ITF finalises agenda on Davis Cup and Fed Cup reforms". ITFTennis.com. 2017-07-20. Archived from the original on 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "Fed Cup - Ostapenko and Sevastova guide Latvia into World Group II". www.fedcup.com. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "Fed Cup: Czech Republic beat United States to win sixth title in eight years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Czechs Make Quick Work of U.S. in Fed Cup Final". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Belarus v Germany". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "Czech Republic v Switzerland". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "France v Belgium". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "United States v Netherlands". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "Germany v Czech Republic". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
- ^ "France v United States". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
- ^ "Czech Republic v United States". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-09-30.