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history of fed cup More than 40 years after the idea of a worldwide women's team competition was first talked about, the inaugural Federation Cup was held in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation. Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman is credited with the original concept in 1919 but it was not until 1962, following the efforts of Mary Hardwick Hare and Nell Hopman, wife of the legendary Australian Davis Cup captain, Harry, that plans were formalised. The inaugural event attracted 16 teams and was a great success. The competition quickly established itself as one of the most important events in international tennis, growing over the following 45 years to become the largest international team competition in women's sport. Today, more than 80 nations compete and the total compensation to participating nations in 2013 is around US$2.7 million. The Federation Cup began as a week-long event played at one venue with ties played over the best of three rubbers. In 1995, as well as being renamed Fed Cup, it adopted the home-and-away, best-of-five rubbers format in the World Group. With the action now spread over three weekends, interest builds during the year and more players have the opportunity to play for their country in front of a home crowd. The World Group is the pinnacle of the competition with eight nations playing in a knockout format, leading to the Fed Cup Final in November. A further eight nations start in World Group II, aiming for promotion to the World Group. All other nations compete in Groups I to III, split over three regional zones, with promotion and relegation between groups and the chance of promotion to World Group II for the successful nations in the three Group I events. As the competition has evolved, the Fed Cup has become a resounding success, with sold-out stadia, huge worldwide television audiences and intense media interest. A crucial part in its success has been the participation of leading players. Margaret Court and Billie Jean King clashed in the inaugural final, while Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles all led their nations to victory. In 2013 Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Sara Errani, Maria Kirilenko and Samantha Stosur continued the leading players' participation: proof, if it were needed, that Mrs Wightman, Mrs Hopman and Mrs Hare were right: women's tennis demands a truly international stage, which is exactly what the Fed Cup provides. 2013 Fed Cup Final Media Guide | Introduction 7 Fed Cup trophy