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| 23 Dec 2003 | |
| Zina Garrison Appointed Captain of 2004 U.S.A Fed Cup Team |
The USTA has announced Zina Garrison as captain of the 2004 United States Fed Cup team. Garrison, who has served as the squad’s coach since 1999, succeeds captain Billie Jean King, who will continue her long-standing Fed Cup involvement as U.S. Fed Cup team coach. Garrison becomes the first African-American captain in the 40-year history of the women’s international team competition and the 18th U.S. Fed Cup captain. She will make her debut as captain when the United States faces Slovenia in the 2004 World Group First Round on April 24-25 in Slovenia.
Garrison, 40, represented the U.S. on eight Fed Cup teams from 1984 through 1994, helping the United States win three titles during that period. Her overall Fed Cup record as a player stands at 22-5 (7-4 singles; 15-1 doubles). As team coach, Garrison helped steer the U.S. team to Fed Cup World Group Championships in 1999 and 2000. The 2003 team advanced to the Final in Moscow last month.
“Zina’s keen understanding of the sport, honed as a championship singles, doubles, team player and coach -- along with her dedication to Fed Cup and her relationship with the players -- make her an ideal person to lead the 2004 U.S. Fed Cup team,” said USTA President Alan Schwartz. “She brings unique experience to the captain’s role, having worked closely for the past five years with the incomparable Billie Jean King, who has led the U.S. to more championships than any other captain in Fed Cup history.”
“I’m thrilled to be selected captain of the U.S. Fed Cup team and am ready for the pursuit of a championship, having learned so much from my mentor -- Billie Jean King,” said Garrison. “Leading the effort in representing our country in Fed Cup is a great responsibility and an opportunity for which I am very grateful. Being a part of the U.S. Fed Cup team as a player and coach provides a perspective on what it takes to build a championship caliber team and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
“I’ve had a wonderful run as U.S. Fed Cup captain,” said King. “Women’s international team tennis competition is a passion of mine and one that requires a major commitment. It is with great pleasure that I fully support Alan’s decision to select Zina, who I am convinced is capable of leading the team to a championship. I am committed as coach to support Zina’s efforts with the same passion, desire and enthusiasm she has brought to the team for the past five years.”
“Zina has earned the respect of the entire tennis community through her accomplishments and unsurpassed commitment to the sport at all levels -- from player to coach to broadcaster to board member,” said Arlen Kantarian, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. “We tip our cap to Billie Jean and look forward to a new Fed Cup era under Zina.”
Garrison won 37 titles (14 singles, 20 doubles, 3 mixed doubles) during a 15-year career which concluded in 1997. A perennial top 10 player from 1983-1990, she achieved a world No. 4 year-end ranking in 1989. Garrison won mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open in 1987 and Wimbledon in 1988 with partner Sherwood Stewart, and with Rick Leach at Wimbledon in 1990. She was the singles finalist at Wimbledon in 1990, becoming the first African-American woman to reach the final of a Grand Slam tournament since Althea Gibson in 1958. At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, she won the bronze medal in singles and the gold medal in doubles with partner Pam Shriver.
An active supporter of grass-roots tennis and education programs for children, Garrison also serves as a volunteer consultant to the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation and the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in the nation’s capital. A long-time activist for inner-city youth, Garrison achieved a lifelong dream in 1991 with the opening of the Zina Garrison All-Court Tennis Academy in her hometown of Houston; the program continues to be one of the leading youth programs of its kind. Her community outreach efforts have been recognized by the International Tennis Federation and the State of Texas, including induction into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame and the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996-97. Garrison also was the inaugural recipient of the Family Circle Magazine “Player Who Makes A Difference Award” in 1992.
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