Czech Republic favourites to beat Germany and win 2014 Fed Cup

Czech Republic favourites to beat Germany and win 2014 Fed Cup

By Dan Weston Sep 12, 2014

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The Czech Republic are favourites to beat Germany in the 2014 Fed Cup final over November 8th-9th. Read this Fed Cup final betting preview for a breakdown of the key players stats for both nations prior to choosing your winner.

The final is scheduled to take place on the Indoor Hard surface at the O2 Arena in Prague. The Czech Republic are the top ranked Fed Cup nation and return to the final after success in 2011 and 2012, while the Germans are playing their first final since 1992.

Despite historical form carrying little weight in terms of betting, the Czechs have won six of seven ties against Germany – whilst five of those ties were prior to the Millennium, it’s useful however to note that the Czechs won the last two meetings in 2010 and 2012 on Indoor Hard court.

Historically, the Czech Republic have an excellent record on hard/indoor hard surfaces in Fed Cup matches – they last lost a clash in 2009. Since then, they have won 31 rubbers and lost 11 – an impressive 73.8% win ratio. In comparison since 2009, Germany have played five ties, winning three, and losing two to the Czechs – a win ratio of 52.2% (12-11) of their rubbers.

The format of the Fed Cup is slightly different to the men’s Davis Cup, with the doubles rubber being played as a fifth match decider, as opposed to the third in the Davis Cup. This means that doubles specialists are less relevant in the Fed Cup, as the tie may well be over before the doubles take place. However, should a match be tied at two matches apiece, having players adept at doubles is obviously very useful.

With the official team nominations not due to be submitted until ten days prior to the final, here are the stats for the players who participated in the semi-final matches.

Fed Cup final: Czech Republic vs. Germany (Indoor hard)

Match Stats (correct on 11th September 2014):

Czech Republic squad stats (based on the last 12 months)

Player

Singles ranking

Doubles ranking

Hard/Indoor W/L

Hard/Indoor service hold %

Hard/Indoor break opponent %

Hard/Indoor break combined %

Fed Cup singles W/L

Fed Cup doubles W/L

Petra Kvitova

3

242

26-12

72.8

38.6

111.4

21-6

0-1

Lucie Safarova

14

29

28-14

77.5

30.5

108

11-11

0-1

Klara Koukalova

38

36

16-16

55.5

45.4

100.9

8-5

2-0

Andrea Hlavackova

193

22

4-5

74

30.4

104.4

0-1

4-0

 

German squad stats (based on the last 12 months)

Player

Singles ranking

Doubles ranking

Hard/Indoor W/L

Hard/Indoor service hold %

Hard/Indoor break opponent %

Hard/Indoor break combined %

Fed Cup singles W/L

Fed Cup doubles W/L

Angelique Kerber

8

NR

36-15

71.7

41

112.7

7-5

0-0

Andrea Petkovic

17

55

15-15

62.1

37

99.1

8-3

2-1

Julia Goerges

93

38

9-12

70.1

29

99.1

4-5

2-3

Anna-Lena Groenefeld

NR

32

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

11-7

8-7

The statistics above – as well as the historical statistics previously mentioned – support the argument that the Czech Republic are correctly favoured for this match.

Looking at the 12-month hard/indoor hold/break singles statistics, only Angelique Kerber appears to be a strong opponent for the likely Czech singles players – Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova. Kvitova, at number three in the world, will be the highest ranked player on show and should prefer the quick speed and climate – she struggles with hot and humid conditions on occasion due to Asthma – of the surface. The Czech number one also boasts a superb 21-6 Fed Cup singles record.

Czech number two Safarova’s strong serve should make her tough to break, whilst the second ranked German, Andrea Petkovic, would prefer the slower clay surface to the fast indoor hard courts, and looks likely to struggle if she plays singles matches. Having said this, a strong 8-3 overall singles record should give her hope.

Captain of the Czechs, Petr Pala, chose Klara Koukalova and doubles specialist Andrea Hlavackova for the semi-final doubles rubber against Italy, and it’s likely that they will participate in any crucial doubles rubber – interestingly the pair have yet to be defeated in Fed Cup doubles matches. They are likely to face Julia Goerges and German doubles specialist Anna-Lena Groenefeld if the game is needed.

Click here for the latest Fed Cup odds.

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