The 2018 Fed Cup was the 56th edition of the most important tournament between national teams in women's tennis. The 2018 Fed Cup was expected to feature some structural changes, including a 16-team World Group and the introduction of a Final Four event at a neutral, predetermined location.[1] However, the ITF announced shortly before their annual meeting that they were tabling a vote on the changes for at least one year.[2]
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 February – 11 November |
| Edition | 56th |
| Achievements (singles) | |
← 2017 2019 → | |
In one of the biggest shocks in the tournament history, Russia was demoted to the Zonal Groups for the first time in two decades, after consecutive losses to Slovakia and Latvia.[3]
The final took place on 10–11 November and was won by the Czech Republic.
World Group edit
| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Belarus |
 Belgium |
 Czech Republic |
 France |
 Germany |
 Netherlands |
 Switzerland |
 United States |
Seeds edit
Belarus (quarterfinals)
United States (final)
Czech Republic (champions)
France (semifinals)
Draw edit
| Quarterfinals 10–11 February | Semifinals 21–22 April | Final 10–11 November | |||||||||||
| Minsk, Belarus (hard, indoor)[4] | |||||||||||||
| 1 |  Belarus | 2 | |||||||||||
| Stuttgart, Germany (clay, indoor)[8] | |||||||||||||
 Germany | 3 | ||||||||||||
| Germany | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Prague, Czech Republic (hard, indoor)[5] | |||||||||||||
| 3 |  Czech Republic | 4 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Czech Republic | 3 | |||||||||||
| Prague, Czech Republic (hard, indoor)[10] | |||||||||||||
 Switzerland | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Czech Republic | 3 | |||||||||||
| La Roche-sur-Yon, France (hard, indoor)[6] | |||||||||||||
| 2 |  United States | 0 | |||||||||||
 Belgium | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Aix-en-Provence, France (clay, indoor)[9] | |||||||||||||
| 4 |  France | 3 | |||||||||||
| 4 | France | 2 | |||||||||||
| Asheville, United States (hard, indoor)[7] | |||||||||||||
| 2 | United States | 3 | |||||||||||
 Netherlands | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | United States | 3 | |||||||||||
World Group play-offs edit
The four losing teams in the World Group first round ties and four winners of the World Group II ties will compete in the World Group play-offs for spots in the 2019 World Group.
| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia |
Belarus |
Belgium |
 Italy |
| Netherlands |
 Romania |
 Slovakia |
Switzerland |
Seeds edit
| Venue | Surface | Home team | Score | Visiting team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minsk, Belarus | Hard (i) | Belarus
|
3–2 |  Slovakia
|
| Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Clay (i) |  Romania
|
3–1 | Switzerland
|
| Wollongong, Australia | Hard (i) |  Australia
|
4–1 | Netherlands
|
| Genoa, Italy | Clay |  Italy
|
0–4 | Belgium
|
World Group II edit
| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia |
 Canada |
Italy |
Romania |
 Russia |
Slovakia |
 Spain |
 Ukraine |
Seeds edit
| Venue | Surface | Home team | Score | Visiting team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bratislava, Slovakia | Hard (i) | Slovakia |
4–1 |  Russia
|
| Canberra, Australia | Grass | Australia |
3–2 |  Ukraine
|
| Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Hard (i) | Romania |
3–1 |  Canada
|
| Chieti, Italy | Clay (i) | Italy |
3–2 |  Spain
|
World Group II play-offs edit
The four losing teams in the World Group II ties and four winners of the zonal Groups I are scheduled to compete in the World Group II play-offs for spots in the 2019 World Group II.
| Participating teams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada |
 Great Britain |
 Japan |
 Latvia |
 Paraguay |
Russia |
Spain |
Ukraine |
Seeds edit
| Venue | Surface | Home team | Score | Visiting team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | Clay (i) | Russia
|
2–3 |  Latvia
|
| Cartagena, Spain | Clay | Spain
|
3–1 |  Paraguay
|
| Montreal, Canada | Hard (i) | Canada
|
3–2 | Ukraine
|
| Miki, Japan | Hard (i) |  Japan
|
3–2 |  Great Britain
|
Americas Zone edit
Group I edit
Location: Club Internacional de Tenis, Asunción, Paraguay (clay)
Dates: 7–10 February
- Participating teams
Play-offs edit
Paraguay was promoted to the 2018 Fed Cup World Group II play-offs.
Venezuela and 
Guatemala were relegated to Americas Zone Group II in 2019.
Group II edit
Venue 1: Club Deportivo La Asunción, Metepec, Mexico (hard)
Venue 2: Centro Nacional de Tenis de la FET, Guayaquil, Ecuador (clay)
Dates: 20–23 June and 18–21 July
|
|
Play-offs edit
Asia/Oceania Zone edit
Group I edit
Venue: R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex, New Delhi, India (hard)
Dates: 7–10 February
- Participating teams
Play-offs edit
Japan was promoted to the 2018 Fed Cup World Group II play-offs.
Chinese Taipei and 
Hong Kong were relegated to Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in 2019.
Group II edit
Venue: Bahrain Polytechnic, Isa Town, Bahrain (hard)
Dates: 6–10 February
- Participating teams
|
|
Play-offs edit
Indonesia and Pacific Oceania were promoted to Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in 2019.
Europe/Africa Zone edit
Group I edit
Venue: Tallink Tennis Centre, Tallinn, Estonia (indoor hard)
Dates: 7–10 February
- Participating teams
|
|
Play-offs edit
Great Britain and 
Latvia were promoted to the 2018 Fed Cup World Group II play-offs.
Austria and 
Portugal were relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2019.
Group II edit
Venue: Tatoi Club, Athens, Greece (clay)
Dates: 18–21 April
- Participating teams
Play-offs edit
Greece and 
Denmark were promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group I in 2019.
Egypt and 
Norway were relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group III in 2019.
Group III edit
Venue 1: Cité Nationale Sportive, Tunis, Tunisia (hard)
Venue 2: Ulcinj Bellevue, Ulcinj, Montenegro (clay)
Dates: 16–21 April
- Participating teams
|
|
|
Play-offs edit
Tunisia and 
South Africa were promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2019.
References edit
- ^ "ITF launches next phase of international team competition strategy". FedCup.com. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "ITF finalises agenda on Davis Cup and Fed Cup reforms". ITFTennis.com. 2017-07-20. Archived from the original on 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "Fed Cup - Ostapenko and Sevastova guide Latvia into World Group II". www.fedcup.com. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "Belarus v Germany". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "Czech Republic v Switzerland". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "France v Belgium". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "United States v Netherlands". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
- ^ "Germany v Czech Republic". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
- ^ "France v United States". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
- ^ "Czech Republic v United States". FedCup.com. Retrieved 2018-09-30.