Bermuda at the 2001 Federation Cup

The Federation Cup is one of greatest women tennis events played yearly at international levels. The International Tennis Federation launched it in the year 1963, which marked its 50th inaugural celebration. Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman deserves acclaim for the initial plan in the year 1919, who also floated a trophy for the contestants United States and Great Britain. Hazel’s preliminary idea did not generate any response from the bodies prevalent on the scene then. However, subsequently Nell Hopman and Mary Hardwick Hare having impressed by Hazel’s plan, made all out efforts to bring it in reality. The International Tennis Federation (ITF), took note of the great research work done by Hare, which cited positive responses all over.

During commencing year there was participation of 16 nations, which eventually rose to 73 teams by the year 1976. Initial trophy was known as Federation Cup, which was renamed to Fed Cup in 1995. The Federation Cup has presented the tennis stars like Billie Jean King, Darlene Hard, Margaret Smith and Lesley Turner on its courts, who emerged as the Grand Slam greats. Gill Butterfield happens to be the senior most player from Bermuda in the Fed Cup, who played even at the age of 52 opposite Jamaica in the doubles in 1996. Bermuda at the 2001 Federation Cup was Euro/African Zone Group II player.

Bermuda at the 2001 Federation Cup registered its team through American Zone. They played its losing match in the beginning opposite Costa Rica. Bermuda picked up its performance in the next two round robins from the pool and went on defeating both the rivals, Panama and Antigua & Barbuda. In the next two rounds, the first and the final it lost its challenge opposite Bolivia and Guatemala.

Bermuda at the 2001 Federation Cup listed its team through American Zone Group II. The Bermuda played its three pool matches in the round robins. In spite of its first loss opposite Costa Rica by 0-3 it recorded its successive wins opposite Panama by 3-0 and Antigua & Barbuda by 2-1. In the next first round opposite Bolivia and the subsequent group finals opposite Guatemala Bermuda suffered total defeat by 0-3.