The Palais des Sports de Marseille is the venue for this blockbuster Fed Cup rematch. The only difference from last year being that this time it will be played on a hard court. Last year, France came back brilliantly after being 0-2 down and on the verge of elimination. They would clinch victory in a crucial doubles rubber winning the tie 3-2. Italy will be hoping to avenge the loss this time around.
The French Team
Led by their captain Amelie Mauresmo, the French team includes Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia, both of whom had a hand in France's victory last year. Alize Cornet opts to not compete this time around as experienced Pauline Parmentier and new blood Oceane Dodin complete the team. The French team is the youngest team to play this year with a combined average age of 23.5.
Last year, Mladenovic was substituted in after being a wild card. This time, she forms the core of the team. It will be Mladenovic's 8th Fed Cup tie. Only two of those have been in singles matches, with the solo victory coming against Sara Errani last year. On the other hand, the French number one has been more prolific in doubles. She has won all seven matches that she has played with different partners.
Garcia is playing her 5th tie this year. She has had mixed success in singles, winning three and losing three. Her most notable win was that of last year against Camila Giorgi, where she fought back after being a set down to level the tie at 2-2. Garcia also has won all the doubles matches that she has competed in during Fed Cup play.
Parmentier, who first played in the Fed Cup in 2010, will look to add her experience to this young team. She has won four out of seven matches played, but her last win dates all the way back to 2012. Parmentier would most likely be the support as Mladenovic and Garcia would be expected to play majority of the matches. Dodin has earned her first ever Fed Cup nomination and the 19-year-old would look to gain experience just being involved in the tie.
The team spirit has been most unique about this French team as they make it a point to gather during Slams to have dinner and enjoy themselves.
The Italian Team
Corrado Barazzutti leads the team which consists of Sara Errani and Camila Giorgi, who both played in that thrilling tie last year. Veteran Francesca Schiavone joins the team along with first timer Martina Caregaro.
Errani, the highest ranked player in this tie, has a 21-12 record in Fed Cup action. Much known for her strength on clay, the feisty Italian does have some wins on hard courts. This time however, she will be without her former partner Roberta Vinci.
Giorgi plays in her 5th tie and has triumphed twice out of five singles matches. One loss came at the hands of Garcia in the previous tie. She has only played one doubles match, which resulted in a loss.
The experienced veteran, Schiavone, has a 26-19 record with her first win dating back 14 years. The seasoned Italian has more experience playing singles than doubles in the Fed Cup, but nonetheless has successfully won all four doubles matches she has played. Caregaro, like Dodin for France, has been nominated for the first time and will look to provide support when the team needs it.
Analysis
France leads the head to head at 7-3 and won their latest encounter. It is the Italians who are ranked higher though and have been champions recently in 2013. Going into the tie, Mladenovic and Garcia are with the better form since the start of the year. Mladenovic progressed to the third round of the Australian Open before she got knocked out. Garcia was defeated in the first round, but both she and Mladenovic made it to the third round in doubles. They were also the runners-up at the Apia International Sydney. With Garcia and Mladenovic already forging a great partnership, it would be of immense help should the tie get to a decisive doubles rubber.
The Italians will look to Errani and Giorgi again for the singles match-ups. Both players did not have any success at the Australian Open as they were sent packing home in the first round. Errani did progress to the quarterfinals in Sydney, while Giorgi reached the quarterfinals in Hobart.
The French pair have winning head to head records against Errani. The head-to-head between Giorgi and Garcia is tied at one a piece, Mladenovic and Giorgi have yet to meet. It will be interesting to see how the two would fare as they both hit very flat forehands. A close affair could ensue. It will be a battle between youth and experience between the two teams. The French will be with belief after that thrilling win last year, while the Italians will be hungry to redeem themselves and gun for glory once more.
Prediction: France to win, 3-1