The ITF announced that it has revised the dead rubber policy for all Fed Cup ties, starting with this weekend’s Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group and World Group II first round ties on 9-10 February.
 
The new policy states that if a tie is decided after the third singles rubber (ie one nation has a winning 3-0 lead after the first match on Sunday), the fourth singles rubber will not be played (*) and the dead doubles rubber will be played instead. However if the tie is decided after the fourth singles rubber (ie one nation has a winning 3-1 lead), the dead doubles rubber will still be played. A match tiebreak (first to 10 points) will replace the third set in all dead doubles rubbers.
 
The existing dead rubber policy used in the Fed Cup Final will remain the same. If a tie is decided after the third singles rubber, the fourth singles rubber will not be played, and the dead doubles rubber will be played instead. However if the tie is decided after the fourth singles rubber, the dead doubles rubber will not be played.
 
The revision of the dead rubber policy in Fed Cup follows the successful introduction of a new dead rubber policy for all Davis Cup ties in 2011.
 
ITF Executive Vice President Juan Margets said: “The enhancement of the dead rubber policy came in response to requests from players, captains and National Associations following its successful introduction in Davis Cup. This is part of the ITF’s continued effort to make Fed Cup more player friendly, while maintaining a good spectator experience on the Sunday.”


 
About Fed Cup by BNP Paribas
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 97 nations entered in 2013. The event is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2013 in the ITF’s centenary year. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Fed Cup. Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) and Bosco Sport (Official Clothing Sponsor) are international sponsors, and Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international partner. Follow all the action on www.fedcup.com, www.fedcup.com/es, www.twitter.com/fedcup and www.facebook.com/FedCup.
 
(*) The fourth singles rubber can still be played if both nations agree.