Based on fan vote the winners of the Fed Cup Heart Award have been announced for performances during February 2020 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifiers and Group I Regional events.
The ITF press release stated that:
- Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova was voted the Fed Cup Heart Award winner from the Fed Cup Qualifiers.
The three regional Group I awards were won by:
- Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit (Europe/Africa),
- Mexico’s Fernanda Contreras Gomez (Americas) and
- India’s Sania Mirza (Asia/Oceania).
This is the 11th year that the Fed Cup Heart Award recognizes players who distinctively represent their country, show exceptional courage on court and have shown outstanding team commitment.
Sevastova as the winner of the Fed Cup Qualifiers vote, will receive US$3,000 and donate the amount to a charity selected by her. Further, the charities chosen by the regional group winners will also receive a US$2,000 donation. Since 2009 when the first award was given to USA’s Melanie Oudin, more then over $200,000 has been donated to charities around the world.
Anastasija Sevastova who shocked 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, selected Paedusai Latvijal a Latvian national food bank as her charity.
Mexican Fernanda Contreras Gomez who has won all her matches except one of her singles and doubles matches, enabled Mexico to book a berth in the Fed Cup Play-offs after defeating Paraguay in a third-set tiebreak. She chose the charity – AMANC – Mexican Association for Aid to Children with Cancer.
Sania Mirza has played in Fed Cup for India since 2016. The charity she chose was Telangana Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Anett Kontaveit won all her singles in Tallinn, with Estonia earning a spot in the promotion ties, where Anett also beat Elina Svitolina the world No.5 at that time.
