Fed Cup Final 2018 Preview: Women’s Tennis Powerhouses USA and CZE Meet Again

Only two nations remain to battle it out on November 10 and 11 for the 2018 Fed Cup title.

Teams representing the Czech Republic from Europe and the United States of America, who both topped the eight-nation World Group, will meet at the indoor O2 Arena in Prague for the title of best nation in professional women’s tennis. The Czechs, the 2016 champions, will look to reclaim the title from the Americans, the reigning world champions.

4️⃣ days to go!#FedCupFinal pic.twitter.com/w6e9SLWqsd

— Fed Cup (@FedCup) November 6, 2018

Here are some key facts about the upcoming tie:

US Dominated Czech Republic for a Long Time

The Czech Republic is currently on a losing streak against the United States, stretching from even before the Republic existed.

In 12 meetings between the two countries in the Fed Cup, the Americans lead the Czechs by 10 wins. Eight of those US victories came in the past eight matches in the tournament starting from the 1986 final, more or less seven years before the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

?? Czech Republic has not defeated ?? USA since 1985!

Can it end a 33-year winless run this weekend?

Read more ? https://t.co/Mp48pnCdkv pic.twitter.com/EFLwcQwhLe

— Fed Cup (@FedCup) November 5, 2018

Nevertheless, these two finalists are the most dominant nations in Fed Cup history. The United States team has won 18 championships, the latest victory coming from last year’s tournament. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic follows second with 10 wins—half of which they won as Czechoslovakia.

The Czechs are the most dominant in this decade, winning the five in the last seven tournaments.

Finalist Nominations

Both nations have announced their respective four-man lineup for the two-day, five-rubber match tournament. Going by rankings alone, the Czechs are favored to overcome their American counterparts.

WTP world number 7 Petra Kvitova spearheads the Czech Republic representatives. Singles number 33 and doubles number 5 Barbora Strycova, alongside doubles number 1 Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova, completes the roster.

Williams sisters, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys out of Fed Cup final for US https://t.co/E7iv3PigUh via @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/C7XiBYZ9c7

— BCABA Network (@BcabaNetwork) November 4, 2018

Meanwhile, the US squad is composed of singles number 36 Danielle Rose Collins, number 52 Sofia Kenin, number 63 Alison Riske, and doubles number 15 Nicole Melichar.

Fed Cup 2018 Finals Odds

Odds offered by several online sportsbooks suggest that the Czech Republic will defeat the United States and win the Fed Cup 2018.

As of November 7, Marathon Bet priced a Czech win at 1/7 and a US victory at 333/100. In addition, SportingBet had the Czechs at 1/7 and the Americans at 4. Meanwhile, odds from 1xBit were 1/5 and 89/25 in favor of the Czech Republic.

Tennis fans and bettors can place a wager on this finals match between the Czechs and the Americans on several Bitcoin sportsbooks, including mBit Casino, Casino-X, and BetOnline.ag, among others.