2012 World Group = Russia, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine 
Hi, M-Lover. 
Think you're being a jerk? Hey, let a big-assed jerk get going here! 
Point by point:
What's going on in Fed Cup is what's gone down with women's tennis globally--the Eastern tsunami crests higher & higher.
I think the rules required the dead singles rubber, but Errani tried to redeem herself and it was quite competitive (two tie-break sets). The dead doubles rubber was played because both coaches wanted all their girls to get some action. Francesca has nothing more to prove--from now on, she does only what she wants, I think. Flavia, like Dementieva maybe felt, and Wicky could become--fed up with having everything put on her every time.
Tennis Australia, I fear, is ill with the American disease--criminals like Craig Tiley propagating an ethic of "it's all about US, it's all about $...". One can only hope that Kiwis and the good folks of Sydney & Perth remain far enough removed from the Melbourne corruption of the sport. Fed Cup's English mouthpieces tried to spin the outcome as a "European victory", which is so lame it's laughable. 
Yeah. WGII. 
See ps below. USTA assured us that, as always, they could buy with money & coerce with political juice dominance they can no longer win on the court--however much they bribe judges & stitch the draws. How's that working out for them, hunh? Venus was on the bench at Stuttgart, trying to stay outta sight. In fairness, she had little enough to cheer. (Will claim to ITF/IOC she was "available to play" and should get into London without even a Fed Cup nomination!) More...
You're right on the complicated. If there's a way to shoot themselves in the foot, the French will find it. Escude could have a winning team if the French federation, the WTA, and various cranky parents would butt out.
Actually, the Belgians & Czechs put on the most exciting, interesting and decorative (Barbora 
) show of the weekend. Wicky & Flipper have nothing at all to be ashamed of, and the Czechs can be immensely proud. In the end, Barbora showed she's way more than her short skort & non-tennis tan. I don't think Moscow will go without a challenge. The Czech girls have played all kinds of places with less back-up than they deserve--even in Prague! 
While they've not yet commanded top ten, the Czechs like the Russians are a team with great depth.
Strictly IMO, before the Yank overlords & a few Brit & West European sycophants try to "suppress" anything, they better consult the record & the prospects. They TRIED to destroy ITF & replace it with the American-controlled associations. 
The IOC helped slap 'em down, even before the BRICS countries won Sochi & Rio (and let's not even mention Doha World Cup...) The FACT is, "they" no longer have the juice. The old imperialists took tennis worldwide & it's now evolved into the global sport of the new world order--get used to it.
But if they wanna try, hey--let 'em throw down. Make my day. Russia & India are already on the same page in considering an independent Eurasian Tour, and a Eurasian Slam would certainly result. AO postures as the exclusive slam of Asia-Pacific because they're scared spitless Beijing may initiate an East Asia Slam. I suspect the Southern Hemisphere might also be in the market for a level playing field without biased rulings & stitched up draws.
Remember, Masha has another Fed Cup tie to play. Given her Moscow record, I doubt they'll risk her in the Final. (Hopefully she'll be busy readying for Istanbul YEC, anyway.) Think maybe the first 2012 tie, after AO. (Hopefully she'll be busy readying for Istanbul YEC, anyway. 
) Think maybe the first 2012 tie, after AO. 
PS: Seriously, until kb4iuj's post in Fashion, I hadn't thought of this:
Maybe they'll play the US next year... 
What if the US had to go play in Minsk!!!??? 
In the dark, Belarus def Estonia 5-0 to enter World Group II.
"That's the way the world works... right now." --Maria Sharapova at 17
