PRESS RELEASE 10 February 2017 Fed Cup Commitment Awards Presented at First Round Ties the ITF, Through Its National Association

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PRESS RELEASE 10 February 2017

Fed Cup Commitment Awards presented at first round ties

The ITF, through its National Associations, will present further Fed Cup Commitment Awards during this weekend’s 2017 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas first round ties on 11-12 February.

This new award, which was launched at the 2016 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final in Strasbourg, will be presented by the ITF to Fed Cup players who have shown long-standing dedication to representing their country in this prestigious competition. Each award recipient will have competed in a minimum of 20 World Group ties or 40 ties at any level of the competition (including zone group events) over their career.

The ITF presented the first five trophies to players in Strasbourg to four of France’s Fed Cup stars, Gail Benedetti, Francoise Durr, Mary Pierce and Nathalie Tauziat, and four time Fed Cup champion Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic.

The following players have already received awards this week during the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Zone Group events:

Americas Zone Group I - Catalina Castano (COL), Mariana Duque Marino (COL) Asia/Oceania Zone Group I - Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) Europe/Africa Zone Group I - Maret Ani (EST), Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR), Pemra Ozgen (TUR)

This weekend presentations will be made to the following players at their respective Fed Cup by BNP Paribas home ties:

Belarus - Tatiana Poutchek Romania - Virginia Ruzici Russia - Svetlana Cherneva Switzerland - Christiane Jolissaint, Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere, Emanuela Zardo USA - Lindsay Davenport

A total of 130 players have already qualified to receive the award, including all-time greats Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who played a record 58 World Group ties. The list also includes Anne Kremer of Luxembourg, who is the record holder for number of ties at all levels with 74. A full list of award winners can be viewed here

The Commitment Award trophies are based on the design of the current Fed Cup trophy. The ITF through its National Associations will make presentations to award winners at Fed Cup ties and other National Association events throughout 2017.

Over 3,000 players in history have taken part in Fed Cup, which was launched in 1963 to mark the ITF’s 50th birthday, with 16 nations taking part. The event, which celebrated its own 50th birthday in 2013, has grown to become the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with over 90 nations and 350 players taking part every year.

ITF President David Haggerty said: “We are delighted to be able to recognise the dedication of players for more than half a century to represent their country in this prestigious competition. Players at all levels have continued to rise to the unique challenge of competing in a team environment in front of their home fans, and through this award, we would like to thank them for their contribution.”

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 107 nations entered in 2017. The competition is 54 years old having been founded in 1963. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Fed Cup. Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) is an international sponsor, while beIN SPORTS is the Official Global Media Rights Partner. Follow all the action on www.fedcup.com, www.fedcup.com/es, www.twitter.com/fedcup, www.facebook.com/FedCup and www.Weibo.com/fedcupofficial.

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