I think that’s only possible if there’s an FTA partner involved who actively chooses to not air it.
But it is an awful loophole to have…
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Fed Cup
ASH BARTY TO LEAD AUSSIES INTO FED CUP BATTLE
LIVE ON 9GEM SUNDAY & MONDAY
Ashleigh Barty will lead Australia’s World Group charge when they face Fed Cup 2018 finalists USA in Asheville, North Carolina, LIVE on 9Gem from 5.00am next Sunday, February 10 and Monday, February 11.
Barty, now world No 13 after an impressive summer campaign where she became the first Australian female quarter-finalist at the Australian Open in 10 years, is sitting at a career-high ranking.
She will be joined by Daria Gavrilova (47), Priscilla Hon (143), Kimberly Birrell (157) and Astra Sharma (160) in the five-strong Australian team.
Gavrilova will aim to build on her Fed Cup form after sealing victory over the Netherlands in Wollongong last April. Priscilla Hon, Astra Sharma and Kimberly Birrell will all push for selection in the final four during the week leading into the tie.
Sharma has been named in the Fed Cup team for the first time following a breakout Australian Open where she earned her first ever main-draw Grand Slam win and reached the mixed doubles final as a wildcard pairing with fellow Aussie J.P. Smith. She too is currently sitting at a career-high world ranking.
Kimberly Birrell has also hit a career-high ranking following her incredible summer that culminated in a third round appearance at the Australian Open.
Priscilla Hon rounds out the team playing off for full selection.
Barty’s versatility will again be pivotal to the team’s success with her proven ability in both singles and doubles, and being the only player in the world with a top 15 singles ranking and a top 10 doubles ranking.
Representing the US will be world No 17 Madison Keys , Danielle Collins (23), Sofia Kenin (37) and doubles No 13 Nicole Melichar .
The Fed Cup tie by BNP Paribas World Group will be played at the US Cellular Arena, Asheville, USA.
USA leads Australia 9-5 in their 14 Fed Cup clashes to date, with the USA defeating Australia 4-0 the last time the two teams met in 2016.
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Australia will host Belarus in a Fed Cup semi-finals in April, with the location decided by a coin toss as the nations are yet to play each other in the competition. I expect it will again be shown on 9Gem due to netball and NRL coverage on the main channel in Sydney and Brisbane.
Australia is drawn with Belgium and Colombia in the Davis Cup Finals.
Very sad news for Perth with Hopman Cup being axed after 31 years. 
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At least it was forecast, better than the news dropping like a nuclear bomb.
Roger Federer, who is competing at the Miami Open, lamented the axing of Hopman Cup.
This is where it has always been, this is where the spirit is or was and will always be. It’s a bit sad news that’s happening.
It looks like the women’s tournaments for Brisbane and Sydney International could be under threat as well. If Tennis Australia doesn’t react quickly, there may only be one WTA tournament in Australia before the Australian Open next year (the Hobart International). Not ideal preparation for female players.
Adelaide is getting what used to be the Sydney tournament the week before aus open with atp/wta event.
The question atm is what is happening the week of the old Brisbane event for the wta
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The question is will the changes devalue Nine’s broadcast contract with Tennis Australia, because Nine will have less women’s matches to show?
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Wouldn’t it have the opposite effect considering the ATP Cup will be a points event whereas the Hopman Cup was an exhibition tournament?
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Australia will host Belarus in the Fed Cup semi-final at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena during Easter (April 20-21). It will feature the new world No.9 Ashleigh Barty.
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LIVE ON 9GEM 20 & 21 APRIL
ASH BARTY TO LEAD THE CHARGE IN AUSSIES’ SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH BELARUS
Australia’s World Group semi-final clash against Belarus in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas will be broadcast LIVE on 9Gem from 1.00pm Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21.
The crucial semi-final will see Ashleigh Barty (Qld) lead Daria Gavrilova (Vic) and fellow Queenslanders Samantha Stosur and Priscilla Hon in the battle at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena.
Ash Barty enters the tie as the top ranked player in both singles and doubles from both teams, after recently cracking the world’s Top 10. Barty’s impressive 14-2 Fed Cup win-loss record will prove pivotal to Australia’s hopes of winning through to the Fed Cup final for the first time since 1993.
Sam Stosur, currently ranked world No. 17 in doubles, has amassed the most WTA doubles points of any player for 2019 on the back of winning the Australian Open women’s doubles title and reaching the doubles final in Miami. Stosur’s experience is a huge asset to the team, and she also holds the record for the most Australia Fed Cup singles wins.
World No. 58 Gavrilova comes in with recent wins over world No. 37 Dayana Yastremska (UKR) and world No. 31 Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU). In the last tie against the USA she stretched Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins to three sets and will be looking to build on her Fed Cup form.
Priscilla Hon has hit a career high ranking of No.130 this week and is excited to be part of the team after triumphing in the USA in a live fifth-rubber alongside Ash Barty. Recently she qualified for Indian Wells after defeating two top 100 opponents.
The Belarus team is features a strong line-up of top players, including world No. 10 Aryna Sabalenka , two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka and Brisbane International 2018 finalist, world No.35 Aliaksandra Sasnovich .
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An Easter long weekend of tennis!
Australia will host the 2019 Fed Cup final against France in November after beating Belarus 3-2 in this weekend’s semi-final in Brisbane. In Sunday’s action, Ash Barty defeated Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets then Victoria Azarenka trounced Samantha Stosur and it went down to the doubles. Barty and Stosur won the doubles match in three tight sets to secure the tie. It is the first time since 1993 that the Aussies have reached the Fed Cup final. 9Gem’s coverage went overtime both yesterday and today due to the tight result. I expect the final on November 9-10 will air on main channel.
(updated after this morning’s result of semi final between France and Romania)
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Australia’s men’s team are also in the Davis Cup in Madrid later in November but coverage will be in the middle of the night.
Fed Cup Final to be played at RAC Arena in Perth featuring Ash Barty as the main drawcard on 9 and 10 November
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