For the first time since 2010, Team USA has advanced to the Fed Cup Final, defeating the Czech Republic 3-2. Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands provided the heroics in the 5th and deciding doubles rubber. The Czechs have won the Fed Cup title five of the last six years (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016). On 23 April 2017, the Americans ended the Czech’s dominant run at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa in Tampa, FL.

Come November, Team USA will travel to Belarus in pursuit of its 18th Fed Cup title. The U.S. and Belarus last played five years ago in Worcester, MA, during World Group II 1st-Round play. Team USA won that Tie 5-0. November’s Final is a first for Belarus.

Finally, Team USA is back in the Fed Cup Final

Team USA last won the title in 2000 with Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati and Lisa Raymond. I’ve been the announcer for U.S. based Fed Cup Ties since 2002. Over those 15-years, Team USA has reached the Fed Cup Final three times:

2003: Lost 4-1 to France in Moscow

2009: Lost 4-0 to Italy in Reggio Calabria

2010: Lost 3-1 to Italy in San Diego

Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands were the anchors for Team USA during the 2010 Final. Both lost their opening rubbers (Coco fell 2-6, 4-6 to Francesca Schiavone / Mattek-Sands fell to Flavia Pennetta 6-7, 2-6). Melanie Oudin stepped-in for Bethanie on day-2, delivering the team’s only win (defeated Schiavone 6-3, 6-1). Pennetta then dominated Vandeweghe (6-1, 6-2) to clinch the Tie for Italy.

Seven years later, Coco and Bethanie’s lackluster performances in San Diego have to be weighing on them. This is a chance to capture the Fed Cup title for the first time in 17-years. Belarus may have Victoria Azarenka (maternity leave) back by November. It’ll be all hands on deck in Minsk, behind a pair of MVPs in Vandeweghe and Mattek-Sands seeking redemption.