1998 Fed Cup World Group

The World Group was the highest level of Fed Cup competition in 1998. Eight nations competed in a three-round knockout competition. France was the defending champion, but they were defeated in the semifinals by Switzerland. Spain defeated Switzerland to capture their fifth title.

Participating Teams

Participating Teams
Belgium	Czech Republic	France	Germany
Netherlands	Spain	Switzerland	United States

Draw

	Quarterfinals 18–19 April					Semifinals 25–26 July					Final 19–20 September
	Ghent, Belgium (Indoor hard)
	1	France	3
		Belgium	2			Sion, Switzerland (Outdoor clay)
						1	France	0
Brno, Czech Republic (Indoor carpet)							Switzerland	5
		Switzerland	4
	4	Czech Republic	1								Geneva, Switzerland (Indoor hard)
												Switzerland	2
	Saarbrücken, Germany (Indoor carpet)										3	Spain	3
	3	Spain	3
		Germany	2			Madrid, Spain (Outdoor clay)
						3	Spain	3
Kiawah Island, SC, USA (Outdoor clay)							United States	2
		United States	5
	2	Netherlands	0

First Round

France vs. Belgium

France 3	Expo Centre, Ghent, Belgium 18–19 April 1998 Greenset hard (indoors)		Belgium 2
1 2 3 1 Sandrine Testud Sabine Appelmans 6 3 6 2     2 Sarah Pitkowski Dominique Van Roost 6 4 4 6 2 6   3 Sandrine Testud Dominique Van Roost 5 7 6^7 7^9     4 Sarah Pitkowski Sabine Appelmans 4 6 6 3 6 1   5 Alexandra Fusai / Nathalie Tauziat Els Callens / Laurence Courtois 6 4 6 0

^[1]

Switzerland vs. Czech Republic

Switzerland 4	Rondo Hall, Brno, Czech Republic 18–19 April 1998 Supreme carpet (indoors)		Czech Republic 1
1 2 3 1 Patty Schnyder Jana Novotná 6 3 2 6 3 6   2 Martina Hingis Adriana Gerši 6 2 6 1     3 Martina Hingis Jana Novotná 4 6 6 3 6 2   4 Patty Schnyder Adriana Gerši 6 3 6 3     5 Martina Hingis / Patty Schnyder Denisa Chládková / Ludmila Richterová 6 0 6 1

^[2]

Spain vs. Germany

Spain 3	Saarland Hall, Saarbrücken, Germany 18–19 April 1998 Har-Tru clay (outdoors)		Germany 2
1 2 3 1 Magüi Serna Andrea Glass 6 3 6^3 7^7 6 3   2 Conchita Martínez Jana Kandarr 1 6 6 1 5 7   3 Conchita Martínez Andrea Glass 6 3 3 6 2 6   4 Magüi Serna Jana Kandarr 6 3 6 4     5 Conchita Martínez / Magüi Serna Andrea Glass / Wiltrud Probst 6 4 7^7 6^5

^[3]

United States vs. Netherlands

United States 5	East Beach T.C., Kiawah Island, SC, United States 18–19 April 1998 Har-Tru clay (outdoors)		Netherlands 0
1 2 3 1 Lindsay Davenport Amanda Hopmans 6 4 6 1     2 Monica Seles Miriam Oremans 6 1 6 2     3 Lindsay Davenport Miriam Oremans 6 1 6 2     4 Monica Seles Amanda Hopmans 6 1 6 2     5 Mary Joe Fernández / Lisa Raymond Manon Bollegraf / Caroline Vis 6 1       retired

^[4]

Semifinals

France vs. Switzerland

France 0	Tourbillon Stadium, Sion, Switzerland 25–26 July 1998 Red clay (outdoors)		Switzerland 5
1 2 3 1 Julie Halard-Decugis Martina Hingis 5 7 1 6     2 Amélie Mauresmo Patty Schnyder 5 7 6 2 3 6   3 Amélie Mauresmo Martina Hingis 7^8 6^6 4 6 2 6   4 Julie Halard-Decugis Patty Schnyder 3 6 2 6     5 Alexandra Fusai / Nathalie Tauziat Emmanuelle Gagliardi / Patty Schnyder 6 2 3 6 3 6

^[5]

Spain vs. United States

Spain 3	Campo Villa T.C., Madrid, Spain 25–26 July 1998 Red clay (outdoors)		United States 2
1 2 3 1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Lisa Raymond 6^4 7^7 6 3 6 0   2 Conchita Martínez Monica Seles 3 6 6 3 1 6   3 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Monica Seles 4 6 0 6     4 Conchita Martínez Lisa Raymond 7^7 6^1 6 4     5 Conchita Martínez / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Mary Joe Fernández / Lisa Raymond 6 4 6^5 7^7 11 9

^[6]

Final

Switzerland vs. Spain

Switzerland 2	Palexpo Hall, Geneva, Switzerland 19–20 September 1998 Greenset hard (indoors)		Spain 3
1 2 3 1 Patty Schnyder Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 2 6 6 3 2 6   2 Martina Hingis Conchita Martínez 6 4 6 4     3 Martina Hingis Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7^7 6^5 6 3     4 Patty Schnyder Conchita Martínez 3 6 6 2 7 9   5 Martina Hingis / Patty Schnyder Conchita Martínez / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 0 6 2 6

^[7]

1998 Fed Cup Champions
Spain Fifth title

References

1. "France v Belgium". fedcup.com.
2. "Switzerland v Czech Republic". fedcup.com.
3. "Spain v Germany". fedcup.com.
4. "United States v Netherlands". fedcup.com.
5. "France v Switzerland". fedcup.com.
6. "Spain v United States". fedcup.com.
7. "Switzerland v Spain". fedcup.com.

See also

• Fed Cup structure