With the WTA season over, it’s time for the one event that traditionally ends the tennis year: the Fed Cup final.
Unsurprisingly, the 2016 final once again features the Czech Republic as the Petr Pala-led squad has made what is becoming their annual final appearance, having only missed out on one of the last five Fed Cup finals.
One thing will be decisively different this time around though, as for the first time in their Fed Cup history, the Czechs have to contest a final on foreign territory, with the French squad enjoying a home advantage in Strasbourg.
If the Czech Republic’s past final performances are anything to go by, the French will need every bit of edge they can find. Petra Kvitova & Karolina Pliskova have shown to be in proper form recently, making this final an uphill battle for the French to fight.
While the Czech team is completed by Barbora Strycova & Lucie Hradecka, the French federation is entrusting Carolina Garcia, Kristina Mladenovic, Pauline Parmentier & Alize Cornet with the difficult task of trying to capture the nation’s third Fed Cup title.
Thursday was all about preparation in Strasbourg as the players were busy practicing ahead of Friday’s draw ceremony and the start of play on Saturday.
