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Agence France-Presse

CoCo Vandeweghe defeated Andrea Petkovic on Sunday to deliver the killing blow in a nightmare Fed Cup tie for Germany that had kicked off with a first day national anthem gaffe.
Petkovic and her teammates were angered on Saturday when an American soloist sang an old version of the German anthem that begins with a stanza considered overtly nationalist – “Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles” – a reference to German supremacy.
Singing that version is unwelcome in Germany because of its strong links to the Nazi era, with only the third stanza of the old anthem now used.
“I have never felt so disrespected in my life,” Petkovic said on Saturday. “It was an absolute effrontery
and insolence of the very worst kind.”


Things would get no better for Germany on the court in Maui, Hawaii as Petkovic, a 12-time Fed Cup singles winner, lost to Alison Riske 7-6 (12-10), 6-2 in Saturday’s only completed match.
The US women took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five tie when Julia Georges, who was in tears after the anthem error, retired on Sunday with a knee injury in a rain-disrupted match with Vandeweghe leading 6-3, 3-1.
Nazi-era German anthem at Fed Cup sparks outrage as USTA apologises
Georges was hurt slipping on a rain-slicked baseline on the last point played on Saturday.
Petkovic was up again on Sunday with the tie on the line, taking on shock Australian Open semi-finalist Vandeweghe.
Petkovic broke Vandeweghe in three of her first four service games to take the first set 6-3, and was up 4-2 in the second when the American took a medical timeout for heat illness.

.@CoCoVandey secures the win 4 #TeamUSATennis! 3-0 vs to help us advance 2 the @FedCup SF where we face . Great tennis by both teams pic.twitter.com/ybywFHJr4e
— USTA (@usta) February 12, 2017

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

From there it was all Vandeweghe as she won the next 10 games to win the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 and put the United States into a semi-final tie in April with defending champions the Czech Republic, who beat Spain 3-2.
Petkovic, irked by an extended break allotted to Vandeweghe at the end of the second set, couldn’t regain her focus.
Davis Cup umpire smashed in the face by tennis ball undergoes surgery on fractured eye socket
She finished with 11 double faults, including two in the final game of the match.
Petkovic was then left to stand and watch as Vandeweghe celebrated with her teammates before belatedly shaking hands with her foe.

Ein Versuch der weniger emotionalen Erklärung bzgl. der gestrigen Hymnen Geschichte. Ich denke, es setzt Dinge besser in Perspektive: pic.twitter.com/MSh3XNPpoZ
— Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) February 12, 2017

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Even a meaningless doubles rubber played after the tie was decided was a disaster for Germany as Laura Siegemund and Carina Witthoeft retired while trailing Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Shelby Rogers 4-1 because of Siegemund’s left arm injury.
“Honestly, it’s been a really tough week for us,” said Petkovic, who took to Twitter on Sunday to elaborate on her feelings about the anthem mix-up.
Hong Kong’s Davis Cup young guns and veteran Rastogi battle to best win in over a decade
“We were mainly [stunned] and did not know how we react. We feared the whole thing could fall back on us,” Petkovic said.
“It is not the worst thing which happened to me in life. But it is the worst thing which happened to me in my Fed Cup life ever.”

The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem. This mistake will not occur again. pic.twitter.com/4LyG3ACe5u
— USTA (@usta) February 11, 2017

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Germany captain Barbara Rittner said she had even pondered snatching the microphone from the singer.
“I could have cried, because it is always a special moment, which gives you goosebumps, when you hear the anthem being played,” Rittner said.
Canadian Davis Cup player who smashed tennis umpire in the face slapped with US$7,000 fine
The president of the US Tennis Association (USTA), Katrina Adams, immediately apologised to Rittner in person and promised to investigate.
“The USTA extends a sincere apology to the German Fed Cup team & fans 4 the outdated National Anthem,” the US Tennis Association tweeted. “This mistake will not occur again.”

CoCo Vandeweghe seals US win over Germany in Fed Cup tie marred by anthem gaffe

Coco Vandeweghe (second right) of the USA celebrates with her teammates after defeating Andrea Petkovic of Germany. Photo: EPA

Unlocking potential: tennis chiefs plan revamp of Davis Cup and Fed Cup finals

Argentina celebrate after winning the Davis Cup world group semi-final against Great Britain. Photo: AFP

Croatia's team members celebrate their victory after the Davis Cup World Group semifinal singles tennis match between Croatia's Marin Cilic and France's Richard Gasquet at "Kresimir Cosic" hall in Zadar, on September 18, 2016. Croatia sealed their ticket to the Davis Cup final after Marin Cilic's three set victory over Richard Gasquet gave them an unassailable 3-1 lead over nine-time champions France in Zadar. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek dances around the trophy after winning the Davis Cup tennis tournament final match over Spain in Prague November 18, 2012. REUTERS/David W Cerny (CZECH REPUBLIC - Tags: SPORT TENNIS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

TOPSHOT - French supporters cheer during the single match between France's Richard Gasquet and Croatia's tennis player Borna Coric of the Davis Cup World Group semifinal single match between Croatia and France at "Kresimir Cosic" hall in Zadar, on September 16, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Tennis Britain - Great Britain v Argentina - Davis Cup Semi Final - Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland - 17/9/16 Great Britain's Jamie Murray in action with Andy Murray during their doubles match against Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro and Leonardo Mayer Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Tennis Britain - Great Britain v Argentina - Davis Cup Semi Final - Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland - 18/9/16 Great Britain's Dan Evans in action against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

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Americans win 4-0 in Hawaii to set up semi-final with defending champions the Czech Republic, who beat Spain 3-2


CoCo Vandeweghe seals US win over Germany in Fed Cup tie marred by anthem gaffe

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Americans win 4-0 in Hawaii to set up semi-final with defending champions the Czech Republic, who beat Spain 3-2

Americans win 4-0 in Hawaii to set up semi-final with defending champions the Czech Republic, who beat Spain 3-2