Madrid to host Tennis’ 2001 Fed Cup World Finals

The ITF announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the Real Federacion Espanola de Tenis to host the 2001 Fed Cup World Finals in Madrid, Spain from 5-11 November 2001. The contract for the 2001 Fed Cup World Finals was signed over the weekend by the ITF and the RFET.

The 2001 Fed Cup World Finals will be played on clay at the Institutio Ferial de Madrid, one week after the Sanex WTA Tour Championship in Munich. This will be the second major final to be played in Spain in consecutive years as the Spanish hosted one of the most successful Davis Cup Finals in history last year in Barcelona with over 48,000 spectators attending the three day event.

The Davis Cup Final also attracted record television audiences in Spain. ‘We believe that Madrid will be an excellent venue for this year’s Fed Cup World Finals,’ said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. ‘Fed Cup has a long, successful tradition in Spain and has attracted big crowds whenever Spain has hosted a tie. We look forward to working once again with the RFET who were such outstanding partners during last year’s Davis Cup Final.’

‘Hosting the Fed Cup World Finals is a great opportunity for Spain,’ said RFET President Agustin Pujol. ‘Women’s tennis has a strong following with the Spanish public and we know that Madrid, a candidate for the 2012 Olympics, will come out in support of this great competition. After last year’s Davis Cup victory, the Spanish people are even more eager to see the Fed Cup trophy brought home to Spain for the sixth time.’

‘The negotiations with the Spanish Federation went very smoothly,’ said ITF Executive Vice President Juan Margets. ‘Both the ITF and the RFET have great confidence that the 2001 Fed Cup World Finals in Madrid will be a strong commercial success. With the quality of players expected to compete and the sporting tradition of the Madrid public, we expect this year’s Fed Cup World Finals to be a great one.’

Eight teams qualify for the Fed Cup World Finals in which two finalists are determined after a two group round-robin is completed. The nations that have already qualified for the World Finals are last year’s semifinalists United States, Czech Republic, Belgium and host nation Spain. Four additional nations will qualify for the World Finals during the Fed Cup World Group Play Offs Week II, scheduled for 21-22 July.

The Week II line-up is as follows: France vs Italy in Vittel; Germany vs Argentina in Hamburg; Slovak Republic vs Russia in Bratislava; Australia vs Switzerland in Sydney.

For further information please contact;

International Tennis Federation
Barbara Travers
Communications Manager
Tel: +44 20 8878 6464
Fax: +44 20 8878 7799
E mail: barbara.travers@itftennis.com