Maui hopes to land Kerber for February’s Fed Cup match

Hawaii’s unprecedented second straight turn as a Fed Cup host could bring the world’s top-ranked player to Maui in February.

Royal Lahaina Resort will play host to a 2017 Fed Cup World Group First Round match between the U.S. and Germany Feb. 11-12, the United States Tennis Association announced on Wednesday in a press conference at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Germany is likely to be led by world No. 1 and reigning Australian and U.S. Open champion Angelique Kerber in the best-of-five team match.

“I think doing an event is one thing. Having the No.1 player in the world is an event in itself,” said Ron Romano, executive director of the USTA Hawaii Pacific Section.

Hawaii is the first state to host a Fed Cup match in consecutive years. The U.S. swept Poland 4-0 last February at Holua Tennis Center in Kailua-Kona with a team featuring Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Coco Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

After securing the clinching point, Williams said “This has been the most enthusiastic crowd I’ve every played in front of, for Fed Cup, or even at home. It’s just been a pleasure to play for that.”

The reception contributed to the USTA’s break from the norm in returning to a host state for a Fed Cup tie the following year.

“We’ve been talking about Hawaii for so long and to now be doing this and doing it back-to-back, it’s so nice to see it come together,” said Jeff Ryan, USTA Senior Director of Team Events.

“To me, it makes sense for us to look at this as a potential residence for this type of event on a regular basis.”

The player rosters will be finalized no later than 10 days before the match. The winner advances to face the Czech Republic or Spain in the World Group semifinals in April. The U.S. is in the World Group for the first time since 2014.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Nov. 18 and last year’s event sold out in a week. Romano said the demand prompted the move to Royal Lahaina, which features a tennis facility with seating for 2,500 and potential to expand to 4,000.

“We went and watched it in Kona and it was exciting and fun. (Romano) asked would we be willing to throw our hat in the ring and said ‘absolutely,’ ” Royal Lahaina CEO and owner Gary Hogan said.

The Fed Cup match again has support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and president and CEO George Szigeti said the returns from February’s event were “spectacular.”

“It was such a big success in Kona, the viewership was phenomenal,” Szigeti said. “We want to make sure we spend every penny the right way and this, with the TV exposure to the U.S. and to Europe, which we’re trying to build, is very valuable.”

Tennis Channel will provide daily coverage of the World Group First Round, according to the USTA announcement.

Tickets will be available at usta.com/fedcup.