The ITF has announced the first four winners of the 2016 Fed Cup Heart Award. Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus has won the award for the World Group and World Group II first round category, while the regional Zone Group I winners are Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko, Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Su-Wei and Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska. The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas ties took place in February.
The four Heart Award recipients were decided by a public vote on FedCup.com and FedCup.com/es. Ten players were initially shortlisted by a judging panel consisting of ITF President David Haggerty, and a group of former Fed Cup players and members of the international media.
All the winners will receive a cheque to be donated to their chosen charity. Aliaksandra Sasnovich will donate a cheque for $6,000 to the National Research Center for Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Immunology in Borovlyan, Minsk; while cheques for $1,000 will be donated by Kateryna Bondarenko (to a children’s orphanage in Kryvyi Rig), Hsieh Su-Wei (to the Maria Social Welfare Foundation in Chinese Taipei), and Nadia Podoroska (to the Comedor Los Conejitos food centre in Rosario).
Sasnovich, Bondarenko and Podoroska will all receive their awards on Friday during the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, and World Group and World Group II play-offs taking place on 16-17 April.
ITF President David Haggerty said: "There were some outstanding performances during the Fed Cup ties in February, so I would like to congratulate all four players for coming out on top of the public vote. The Fed Cup Heart Award continues to reward players for the commitment they make to their team and the competition as a whole. I am sure that all the winners will take great pride in making their donations to charity."
The Fed Cup Heart Award is an ITF initiative that was first presented to USA's Melanie Oudin at the 2009 Fed Cup Final. It aims to recognise players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their team. A total of six players will be recognised in 2016.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich scored three victories against Canada in their World Group II tie in Quebec City to put Belarus into the World Group play-offs for the first time since 2004.
Sasnovich said: "I am very pleased to win such a prestigious award. I want to thank all those people who voted for me, and gave me a chance to help people in need. I want to give this award money to support the children at the Cancer Centre in Borovlyany. I really hope that this money will help someone."
In her first Fed Cup appearance since the birth of her daughter, Kateryna Bondarenkoreturned to international team competition by winning all five of the rubbers she contested for Ukraine in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I event in Eilat, Israel.
Bondarenko said: 'I want to thank everyone who voted for me, I am very honoured to win this Fed Cup Heart Award. I am grateful to be able to help an orphanage which is very close to my heart. I am sure this money will be a big help to them."
Hsieh Su-Wei won three of four singles rubbers in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in Hua Hin, Thailand, to lead Chinese Taipei into the World Group II play-offs for the first time since 2007.
Hsieh said: "I am very happy to receive the Fed Cup Heart Award. I am always proud to play for my country, and wish my teammates the best of luck this weekend. I am glad I am able to help the Maria Social Welfare Foundation, which supports children with mental or physical problems."
Nadia Podoroska won all four of her singles rubbers at the Americas Zone Group I event in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to help Argentina reach the World Group II play-offs.
Podoroska said: "I am very happy to have won the Heart Award. It’s an honour to receive this recognition from Fed Cup. Being able to give something back, doing what I love the most and representing my country is a huge satisfaction. The money will go to Comedor Los Conejitos in Rosario, who work every day to improve the lives of the kids."
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 102 nations entered in 2016. The competition is 53 years old having been founded in 1963. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Fed Cup. International sponsors are Adecco (Official HR Sponsor) and Betway (Official Betting Sponsor). beIN SPORTS is the Official Global Media Rights Partner. For the latest news, visit www.fedcup.com, www.fedcup.com/es, www.twitter.com/fedcup, www.facebook.com/FedCup, http://www.weibo.com/fedcupofficial and www.fedcup.tv.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
