Team USA enters the 2018 WSF Women’s World Team Championship as the three seeds with the U.S. set for pool play, September 11-13, at the Xigang Gymnasium in Dalian, China.
The U.S. leads Pool C, which also includes six seeds France, eleven seeds India and hosts China. The sixteen-nation competition will see two teams advance from each group of four to the 1-8 playoffs, which will be contested September 14-16.
Team USA opens its campaign against India on the Center Court Tuesday, September 11, at 6pm local time, 6am ET. Wednesday holds a crucial test for the U.S. against France and world No. 5 Camille Serme, which will take place on Court 1 at 2pm local time, 2am ET. The U.S. will then close out pool play against hosts China Thursday on Court 2 at 6pm local time, 6am ET.
Three wins in pool play would see the U.S. seeded to reach the semifinals for the first time in tournament history. Team USA have recorded two consecutive best finishes of fifth place in 2014 and 2016. The U.S. squad includes all four members of the side that finished fifth in 2016: Amanda Sobhy, Olivia Blatchford, Reeham Sedky and Sabrina Sobhy.
“It’s feels good to be in this position—it is a sign that USA are recognized as a force in the women’s game,” said Thierry Lincou, U.S. Head Coach and former world No. 1. “But this is just a seeding—we’ve never reached the top four before. After finishing fifth the last two times, it means that we are getting there. We are in a better position to achieve a top four finish. I think everyone is proud and very excited. We’ve been waiting for this moment since the last time. We were so happy to finish fifth—but we thought we could have done a little better. We were seeded seven and it was really tough, but the seeding this year is a little more in our favor. That’s why we are so excited—it’s pure excitement, motivation and desire.”
The hosts have already made history by becoming the first edition of the biennial championship to host all matches on all-glass court, including two all-glass show courts with arena seating and four permanent all-glass courts. Matches are streaming live on wsfwomensteams.com/watch.
Team USA are one of only three teams to have competed in every championship since the inaugural event in 1979.
For more tournament coverage visit wsfwomensteams.com.
