Fed Cup by BNP Paribas: Russia’s top players will compete in Krakow!
The Polish Tennis Federation held a press conference regarding Poland’s first round tie of the Fed Cup World Group against Russia which will be held in the Cracow Arena on February 7-8 2015. Poland’s Fed Cup captain Tomasz Wiktorowski and the team’s leader Agnieszka Radwańska are both certain that they will face Russia’s most dangerous players.
- I am not providing any new information by saying that our rivals are some of the most acclaimed players in the group. If both Maria Sharapova and Ekaterina Makarova take part in the tie, the Russian team will be the favorite to win. It is almost certain that Elena Vesnina will also join their line-up, I am not sure who will be the fourth player. Svetlana Kuznetsova had a good year and there are a few younger girls, who could potentially join the squad - stated Tomasz Wiktorowski at the Press Centre of the National Stadium.
Sharapova is currently ranked second on the WTA Tour, Makarova is 11th and Kuznetsova 27th. Vesnina is the world’s seventh doubles player. She has been playing with Makarova for the past three years with much success.
- I hope we win but it won’t be easy. And that is regardless of wether will play their first or second ranked player. I visited the Cracow Arena before, during a boxing gala and have to say that it is impressive. I hope that it will be full for our tie in February - said Agnieszka Radwanska.
The Pole will get a chance to exact revenge on Sharapova for beating her in three sets in the WTA Finals held in Singapore earlier this year. The Cracow born tennis player won the second set, which she needed in order to advance to the semi finals from 1:5 down.
- The similarities between this upcoming Fed Cup by BNP Paribas match and the one during the WTA Finals is the surface and that both matches are indoors. I advanced to the semi finals but Maria won that match so now it’s my turn. The 15 thousand polish fans should provide some additional motivation – added Radwanska.
Aside from the leader Poland’s team headed by Wiktorowski consists of: Urszula Radwanska, Katarzyna Piter, Magda Linette, Paula Kania and the doubles specialists Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska.
- The Cracow Arena is a slightly smaller version of the National Stadium. When we drew Russia in the World Group, we immediately thought of Cracow. It would be difficult to place such a big tennis event that features Agnieszka Radwanska anywhere else. We are very grateful to the city officials for their support. The record attendance of Fed Cup and Davis Cup by BNP Paribas ties in Poland is five thousand spectators. We are hoping to sell out this venue, we are aiming at 15 thousand – said Piotr Szkiełkowski, Vice-president of the Polish Tennis Federation.
The international Fed Cup attendance record is 15 700. Is there a chance to break it in Cracow?
- We will see how the tickets will be selling. The first signals are very positive. We have not spoken to the city officials yet but if necessary I doubt that the city will object to increasing the size of the bleachers – added Piotr Szkiełkowski.
Officially the tickets for the Poland - Russia tie began selling on Friday and are divided into categories by price. The cost is 50, 60, 80 and 100 PLN per ticket, or 250 and 350 PLN for a day VIP pass.
- Cracow has been ready for some world class tennis for a long time. It is fair to say that tennis is one of the reasons the 15 thousand seat venue has been constructed. It is the biggest sports arena in our city, one which we can truly be proud of. We are very happy that both Agnieszka Radwanska and Maria Sharapova will play here for their fans, we cannot wait for this event to take place – stated Krzysztof Kowal, Head of Sport Infrastructure in Cracow.
The significance of the tie in Cracow will be further accented by the visit of the ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.