1996 Fed Cup World Group

The World Group was the highest level of Fed Cup competition in 1996. Eight nations competed in a three-round knockout competition. Spain was the three-time defending champion, but they were defeated in the final by the finalist from the last two years, the United States, who captured their fifteenth title.

Participating Teams

Participating Teams
Argentina	Austria	France	Germany
Japan	South Africa	Spain	United States

Draw

	Quarterfinals 27–28 April					Semifinals 13–14 July					Final 28–29 September
	Murcia, Spain (Outdoor clay)
	1	Spain	3
		South Africa	2			Bayonne, France (Indoor carpet)
						1	Spain	3
	Amiens, France (Outdoor clay)					3	France	2
		Argentina	2
	3	France	3								Atlantic City, NJ, United States (Indoor carpet)
											1	Spain	0
	Tokyo, Japan (Indoor hard)										2	United States	5
	4	Germany	2
		Japan	3			Nagoya, Japan (Indoor carpet)
							Japan	0
	Salzburg, Austria (Outdoor clay)					2	United States	5
		Austria	2
	2	United States	3

First round

Spain vs. South Africa

Spain 3	Murcia Tennis Club, Murcia, Spain 27–28 April 1996 Red clay (outdoors)		South Africa 2
1 2 3 1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Joannette Kruger 6 3 6 1     2 Conchita Martínez Amanda Coetzer 7 5 6 3     3 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Amanda Coetzer 4 6 1 6     4 Conchita Martínez Mariaan de Swardt 6 2 6 3     5 Virginia Ruano Pascual / María Sánchez Lorenzo Amanda Coetzer / Mariaan de Swardt 4 6 6^6 7^8

[1]

Argentina vs. France

Argentina 2	Amiens Coliseum, Amiens, France 27–28 April 1996 Red clay (outdoors)		France 3
1 2 3 1 Florencia Labat Nathalie Tauziat 6 3 6 4     2 Paola Suárez Julie Halard-Decugis 4 6 6^7 7^9     3 Florencia Labat Julie Halard-Decugis 4 6 1 6     4 Paola Suárez Nathalie Tauziat 7^7 6^5 6 1     5 Florencia Labat / Patricia Tarabini Julie Halard-Decugis / Nathalie Tauziat 2 6 4 6

[2]

Germany vs. Japan

Germany 2	Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan 27–28 April 1996 DecoTurf (indoors)		Japan 3
1 2 3 1 Anke Huber Kimiko Date 6 4 4 6 1 6   2 Steffi Graf Naoko Sawamatsu 6 1 6 3     3 Steffi Graf Kimiko Date 6^7 7^9 6 3 10 12   4 Anke Huber Naoko Sawamatsu 6 4 4 6 6 2   5 Steffi Graf / Anke Huber Kyoko Nagatsuka / Ai Sugiyama 6 4 3 6 3 6

[3]

Austria vs. United States

Austria 2	Hellbrunn Stadium, Salzburg, Austria 27–28 April 1996 Red clay (outdoors)		United States 3
1 2 3 1 Judith Wiesner Mary Joe Fernández 3 6 6^5 7^7     2 Barbara Paulus Jennifer Capriati 6 2 6 4     3 Barbara Paulus Mary Joe Fernández 3 7 6^4 7^7     4 Judith Wiesner Jennifer Capriati 6 1 6 1     5 Petra Schwarz / Judith Wiesner Gigi Fernández / Mary Joe Fernández 0 6 4 6

[4]

Semifinals

Spain vs. France

Spain 3	Lauga Hall, Bayonne, France 13–14 July 1996 Supreme carpet (indoors)		France 2
1 2 3 1 Conchita Martínez Julie Halard-Decugis 1 6 6 4 6 2   2 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Mary Pierce 3 6 4 6     3 Conchita Martínez Mary Pierce 7 5 6 1     4 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Julie Halard-Decugis 6 2 4 6 5 7   5 Conchita Martínez / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Julie Halard-Decugis / Nathalie Tauziat 6 4 2 1     retired

[5]

Japan vs. United States

Japan 0	Rainbow Hall, Nagoya, Japan 13–14 July 1996 Supreme carpet (indoors)		United States 5
1 2 3 1 Kimiko Date Lindsay Davenport 2 6 1 6     2 Ai Sugiyama Monica Seles 2 6 2 6     3 Kimiko Date Monica Seles 0 6 2 6     4 Ai Sugiyama Lindsay Davenport 6^8 7^10 5 7     5 Kyoko Nagatsuka / Ai Sugiyama Lindsay Davenport / Linda Wild 2 6 1 6

[6]

Final

Spain vs. United States

Spain 0	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States 28–29 September 1996 Supreme carpet (indoors)		United States 5
1 2 3 1 Conchita Martínez Monica Seles 2 6 4 6     2 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Lindsay Davenport 5 7 1 6     3 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Monica Seles 6 3 3 6 1 6   4 Gala León García Lindsay Davenport 5 7 2 6     5 Gala León García / Virginia Ruano Pascual Mary Joe Fernández / Linda Wild 1 6 4 6

[7]

1996 Fed Cup Champions
United States Fifteenth title

References

1. "Spain v South Africa". fedcup.com.
2. "Argentina v France". fedcup.com.
3. "Germany v Japan". fedcup.com.
4. "Austria v United States". fedcup.com.
5. "Spain v France". fedcup.com.
6. "Japan v United States". fedcup.com.
7. "Spain v United States". fedcup.com.

See also

• Fed Cup structure