Since none of these matches is being televised in the states, it would be great to get someone's observations/reports. The tie will be played on clay, with two singles matches on Saturday, April 27, and two singles and a doubles match on Sunday, April 28. US players include Capriati, Monica, Shaughnessy, and Raymond. Their Austrian opponents will be Barbara Schwartz, Evelyn Fauth, Daniela Kix and Marion Maruska.

I'm hoping Monica gets some clay court wins since her stay at the Family Circle was cut short.

I won't be there. I hope they get great crowds, though. I would think that Capriati alone would be able to draw a significant audience.

In actuality, the US/Austria matchup looks like the weakest of the eight ties going on this weekend. The Fed Cup Web site is horrible (blame the ITF for promoting Davis Cup as if it were another World Cup and Fed Cup as if it were the first round of the Albuquerque regional high school chess tournament). Nevertheless, some intrigue:

(keep in mind that all ties will be on red clay)

Slovak Republic v. Switzerland. Even without Hingis playing, this looks like a goodie. Hantuchova won Indian Wells, Husarova is #15 in the world in the "Race for #1" this year. Sucha and Nagyova are also Top-50 players. On the other side is the rejuvenated Patty Schnyder, alongside Gagliardi and surprise Budapest finalist, 16-year-old Myriam Casanova. Played in Slovak Republic, edge to Schnyder's clay-lovin' team.

Argentina v. France. On any other surface, it would be a France gimme. Mauresmo, Tauziat, Dechy & Loit are a tough group. AND Mary Pierce is a reservist. But it's dangerous to bet against Paola Suarez on clay (she's beaten Coetzer, Dementieva, and twice Shaughnessy this year). And Clarisa Fernandez just beat Silvia Farnia Elia in the second round at Charleston. Potential upset here in Buenos Aires.

Germany v. Russia. Martina Muller just won at Budapest. That gives her more tournament victories in the past 3 years than the entire country of Russia. Should Dementieva, Myskina, Likhovtseva, and Bovina lose this tie to Germany? No. But it is being played in Germany. On clay. And Likhovtseva and Bovina have been sucking it up latetly. Still, edge to the doubles experience of the Russians and the increasingly impressive Myskina.

Italy v. Sweden. In Milan. Give the Serra Zanetti sisters the edge over the nameless Swedes. Question: where are Farina Elia, Schiavone, Grande, and Garbin???

Spain v. Hungary. Spain should win handily, with the home-court advantage and the experience of Aranxta (not to mention the recent title-holders Montolio and Serna). Still, watch out for Hungary in the future. Even though they all crashed & burned this week at home in Budapest, there's some good young talent in Gubacsi, Kapros, and Mandula (a quarterfinalist at Roland Garros last year).

Croatia v. Czech Republic in Bol, Croatia (site of a tourney next week). Pick Majoli, Kostanic, and Talaja to clobber Keinova & her comrades. Without Bedanova, the Czech team is screwed.

Finally, you have last year's champion, Belgium, facing off against Australia, with its strongest team in years. Molik and Pratt are both in the Top 50. They've got the world's best doubles player in Stubbs. Belgium's bench is weak with Callens and Courtois. And both Henin and Clijsters have had consistency issues this year. However, either one of those two could win the tie pretty much by herself, and it is in Brussels. Go with Belgium to maintain their winning ways.

Thanks for that thorough breakdown, bridgeportjake. I'd like to see that Slovak Republic/Switzerland tie, too. Perhaps the team competition is just what Hantuchova needs to rebound from her dismal post-IW showings.

So Iva is a definite for Croatia? There was some controversy regarding her participation shortly after the team was announced, I thought. It had something to do with her refusing to play in the past, I believe.

From what I understand, she was a last-minute addition. Basically, the captain, Goran Prpic, was put out over her previous refusals to play (remember, she's been hurt alot) and so didn't call her. Then the head of the Croatian federation was all like "No, she's playing." He said that Prpic didn't have the authority to discipline a player in that manner. So she's playing.

Man, it kills me that ITF doesn't promote Fed Cup more!!! Comparing the Davis Cup and Fed Cup Web sites is so friggin' aggravating! No TV either. How tough would it be to put together a package highlighting the best matches from around the world and stick it on the Oxygen network or something? Arrrgh. I hope this Tennis Network thing reaches me.

Also, Martina Hingis needs to play Fed Cup. She would raise the visibility of the tournament significantly, and engender good will, and make Switzerland a serious threat. Damn it, Martina! Play the damn Fed Cup!