Mary Joe Fernandez Out as @USFedCupTeam Captain
In a joint announcement, the USTA and Mary Joe Fernandez, one of the longest-serving Fed Cup Captains in U.S. tennis history, today announced that after eight years of leadership, Fernandez will step down from her role as U.S. Fed Cup Captain. With this change in leadership, the role of Fed Cup captain will now include working very closely with USTA Player Development. The search for a new captain will begin immediately with the goal that a new captain will be named by the end of November.
“We greatly appreciate all that Mary Joe brought to the U.S. Fed Cup Team, including reaching two finals,” said USTA Chairman of the Board and President Katrina Adams. “She is highly regarded by all of the players, and has brought unparalleled experience and insight to the role. She will be missed.”
Adams also added the following: “Going forward, the role of the Fed Cup captain will be changing, and the captain will now work much more closely with USTA Player Development. The captain will attend Player Development training camps and will lend coaching support for players at a number of tournaments throughout the year. This new approach will place additional time demands on any Fed Cup captain over the course of the year.”
“Working with the players has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said Fernandez. “I have been proud to represent the USA in this role. My only regret is we did not bring home the cup during my tenure as Captain. While the changes planned for the captain role are not a fit with my other work and family demands at this time, I plan to do my part to ensure a smooth transition to a new captain once selected, and continue to contribute where I can to the success of the USA Fed Cup Team.”
The U.S. Fed Cup Team will compete at home (location to be determined) against Germany on February 11-12, 2017.
—USTA
Tennis Atlantic 