{"id":588,"date":"2016-10-15T04:00:45","date_gmt":"2016-10-15T08:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/?p=588"},"modified":"2016-10-14T14:08:36","modified_gmt":"2016-10-14T18:08:36","slug":"farewell-corrado-barazzutti-new-era-italian-fed-cup-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2016\/10\/15\/farewell-corrado-barazzutti-new-era-italian-fed-cup-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Farewell to Corrado Barazzutti: a New Era for the Italian Fed Cup Team!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The end of the season is getting nearer and nearer, and flashing lights cover the thrilling endings of the Races to London and Singapore, destinations of the ATP<\/strong> and WTA<\/strong> Finals<\/strong>, respectively. However, it shouldn\u2019t be forgotten that, in November, both David Cup<\/strong>\u00a0and Fed Cup<\/strong>\u00a0finals are going to take place. On the one hand, Zagreb is ready to host the epic battle between Cilic<\/strong>\u2019s Croatia<\/strong> and Del Potro<\/strong>\u2019s Argentina<\/strong>, whereas Kvitova<\/strong> and the Czechs<\/strong> will try to defend their 2015 title against France<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Italy<\/strong> got used to waiting for the Fed Cup\u2019s final in recent years. Due to the outstanding results of Francesca Schiavone, Roberta Vinci<\/strong>, Sara Errani<\/strong> and Flavia Pennetta<\/strong>, it conquered the title four times–in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013. However, these four players did not always compete in the finals. Injuries, technical reasons, or maybe coach\u2019s choices made it possible for Mara Santangelo<\/strong> to be part of the winning four in 2006, as well as for Karin Knapp<\/strong> in 2013. It was indeed Corrado Barazzutti<\/strong>, Italy\u2019s Fed Cup coach since 2002, the steady presence making these decisions during those years.<\/p>\n

Barazzutti has been able to create a team based not only on talent and ability to play tennis, but also on wonderful human relationships, with the women being close friends to each other in and out the tennis court. I\u2019m pretty sure that every tennis fan remembers the 2013 final, when\u00a0Alexandra Panova<\/strong> was battling Vinci in the first match. In the second set, the Russian eventually had two match points. From that moment on, all the Italian players got behind Vinci, trying to motivate her, following her at every changeover. And, guess what, the Italian ended up winning that match!<\/p>\n

Barazzutti, who\u2019s been coaching both Davis and Fed Cup teams since 2002, succeeded in the aim of making the best out of the Italian players. Indeed, he was following Francesca Schiavone in Paris<\/strong> in 2010, when she became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

However, the past few years weren’t satisfying at all. 2015 saw Italy losing to France in the first round of World Group I<\/strong>, with Errani and Vinci defeated in\u00a0the deciding double, where they\u00a0played\u00a0their last match together before pairing again for the Olympics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2016, actually, was even worse for Italy, which, after Pennetta\u2019s retirement from tennis, was denied a masterclass player. In the World Group Play-Offs<\/strong>, Carla Suarez0Navarro<\/strong> and Garbine Muguruza<\/strong> raced past the Italians, who will start again in 2017 from World Group II<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As Sam Cooke sang in 1963, \u201cA change is gonna come.\u201d And yet, Barazzutti decided to give up on his coaching position after 14\u00a0brilliant years, replaced by\u00a0Tathiana Garbin<\/strong>.\u00a0Garbin is a former Italian tennis player. Though her results won\u2019t make her unforgettable, she managed to win a WTA title in Budapest<\/strong>, and to climb the ranking until #22. Her last professional match took place at the 2011 Australian Open<\/strong>, where she lost 6-0 6-0\u00a0against Marion Bartoli<\/strong>.\u00a0After calling it a career, she started her coaching life following former Italian, and current Swiss, Romina Oprandi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Garbin hasn\u2019t spoken that much to the Italian press yet. Clearly, she hasn\u2019t denied how honored she felt to follow such a legen as Barazzutti, and that she is aware of her responsibility.\u00a0It does seem that she prefers to show her abilities with good results, rather than words, which is remarkable.<\/p>\n

However, it won\u2019t be easy. Her first obstacle will be in February, against Slovakia<\/strong>. Garbin will have to build a competitive team, given Pennetta\u2019s retirement, Vinci and Schiavone\u2019s careers coming towards an end, and Camila Giorgi<\/strong>\u2019s argument with the Italian federation.<\/p>\n

Of course, it is really hard to say farewell to a coach such as Barazzutti. I do think that he played a crucial role in making Italian players achieving what they did in recent years. Following his footsteps has to be a hard job, though a change was necessary given poor results and gradual farewells of players. Let\u2019s hope Garbin will be the right chance, and I hope to be writing about Italian achievements again soon.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n