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Fans’ guide to the week ahead: Feb 2 2009


Our who, where, what, when and why guide to the best tennis on planet Earth over the next seven days

Fed Cup, World Group & World Group II, round one

When? Feb 7-8
Where? Rockin all over the world, as Rick Parfitt once sang
Surface? Various
Big names? Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova are representing Russia, theres Alize Cornet, Amelie Mauresmo and Flavia Pennetta assembling for the France-Italy clash, and the latest star to come out of Spain, Carla Suarez Navarro, will line up against the Czech Republic. Notable absentees from the American squad that takes on Argentina, however, as neither Williams sister has made themselves available (newly-wed Beth Mattek spearheads the US challenge). Super Serbs Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic are both representing their nation as they take on Japan in Belgrade.
What else? Its not just about the top two tiers this week. While the big guns get their 2009 campaigns under way this Saturday there are a host of nations battling it out below them in the Europe/Africa Zone, Americas Zone and Asia/Oceania Zone. A glance down the team nominations from the 15 countries assembling in Tallinn, Estonia, for this weeks Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 gives you an indication of the strength of the competition. The likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Agnes Szavay, Victoria Azarenka, Kaia Kanepi, Agnieszka Radwanska and Sorana Cirstea are all in attendance. Yikes.
Web? www.fedcup.com

PBZ Zagreb Indoors

When? Feb 2-8
Where? Zagreb, Croatia
Event type? ATP World Tour 250
Surface? Indoor hard
Prizemoney? Eur 450,000
Draw size? 32 singles, 16 doubles
Big names? This is the strongest of the three ATP events being held this week with all eight seeds ranked inside the top 40. Russian Igor Andreev tops the entry list and will be hoping to fend off the likes of Croatian quartet Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Mario Ancic and 2006 winner Ivan Ljubicic, along with Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, Italian duo Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi and Austrian Jurgen Melzer.
Web? www.zagrebindoors.com

SA Tennis Open

When? Feb 2-8
Where? Johannesburg, South Africa
Event type? ATP World Tour 250
Surface? Outdoor hard
Prizemoney? $500,000
Draw size? 32 singles, 16 doubles
Big names? Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, David Ferrer and Marcos Baghdatis are the star names in the 32-man draw at the inaugural SA Tennis Open in Johannesburg the first ATP Tour event in the country since 1995. Tennishead blogger Wes Moodie will be hoping to keep the locals happy by bagging the doubles trophy when he teams up with fellow South African Jeff Coetzee.
Web? www.satennisopen.co.za

Movistar Open

When? Feb 2-8
Where? Vina del Mar, Chile
Event type? ATP World Tour 250
Surface? Outdoor clay
Prizemoney? $496,750
Draw size? 28 singles, 16 doubles
Big names? Chilean superstar Fernando Gonzalez is headlining his home event as top seed with Spaniard Tommy Robredo propping up the draw as second seed. Other big names include Spanish third seed Albert Montanes and fourth seeded Argentine Jose Acasuso.
Web? www.movistaropen.cl


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.