Week #44: Italy wins Fed Cup title, Rezai gets 1st Tournament of Champions

As it was expected, Italy found little opposition in the American team burdened by the abscence of the Williams sisters, and captured 2009 Fed Cup title by 4-0 for joy of their home crowd. The tie was almost decided after the first day with the straight-set victories of Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone over Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin respectively. Italian No.1 Flavia Pennetta secured the title on the second day overcoming USA No.1 Melanie Oudin. This is the 2nd Fed Cup title for Italy (first was on 2006) and their third final appearance in the last four years.

In Bali, Aravane Rezai benefited of Marion Bartoli's retirement to win an all-French final and become the first winner of WTA Tournament of Champions. In the semis Rezai got rid of Spanish Maria Jose Martinez, while Bartoli defeated Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm. Nevertheless, the most important news were outside the court as Belgian Yanina Wickmayer withdrew after being suspended for 1 year by the Flemish Doping Tribunal for failing to inform about her whereabouts for three times.

Fed Cup Final, Reggio Calabria (Italy)
Italy def. USA 4-0
Flavia Pennetta def Alexa Glatch 6/3 6/1
Francesca Schiavone def Melanie Oudin 7/6 6/2
Flavia Pennetta def Melanie Oudin 7/5 6/2
S.Errani/R.Vinci def L.Huber/V.King 4/6 6/3 11/9

Tournament of Champions, Bali (INA), $600,000
Final: Aravane Rezai (FRA) def Marion Bartoli (FRA) 7/5 ret.