# 1998 Fed Cup World Group

The World Group was the highest level of Fed Cup competition in 1998. Eight nations competed in a three-round knockout competition. France was the defending champion, but they were defeated in the semifinals by Switzerland. Spain defeated Switzerland to capture their fifth title.

## Participating teams

Participating teams :
| Belgium | Czech Republic | France | Germany |
| Netherlands | Spain | Switzerland | United States |

## Draw

| Quarterfinals 18–19 April | Quarterfinals 18–19 April | Quarterfinals 18–19 April | Semifinals 25–26 July | Semifinals 25–26 July | Semifinals 25–26 July | Final 19–20 September | Final 19–20 September | Final 19–20 September |
| Ghent, Belgium (Indoor hard) | Ghent, Belgium (Indoor hard) | Ghent, Belgium (Indoor hard) | | | | | | |
| 1 | France | 3 | | | | | | |
| 1 | France | 3 | Sion, Switzerland (Outdoor clay) | Sion, Switzerland (Outdoor clay) | Sion, Switzerland (Outdoor clay) | | | |
| | Belgium | 2 | Sion, Switzerland (Outdoor clay) | Sion, Switzerland (Outdoor clay) | Sion, Switzerland (Outdoor clay) | | | |
| | Belgium | 2 | 1 | France | 0 | | | |
| Brno, Czech Republic (Indoor carpet) | Brno, Czech Republic (Indoor carpet) | Brno, Czech Republic (Indoor carpet) | 1 | France | 0 | | | |
| Brno, Czech Republic (Indoor carpet) | Brno, Czech Republic (Indoor carpet) | Brno, Czech Republic (Indoor carpet) | | Switzerland | 5 | | | |
| | Switzerland | 4 | | Switzerland | 5 | | | |
| | Switzerland | 4 | | | | Geneva, Switzerland (Indoor hard) | Geneva, Switzerland (Indoor hard) | Geneva, Switzerland (Indoor hard) |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 1 | | | | Geneva, Switzerland (Indoor hard) | Geneva, Switzerland (Indoor hard) | Geneva, Switzerland (Indoor hard) |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 1 | | | | | Switzerland | 2 |
| Saarbrücken, Germany (Indoor carpet) | Saarbrücken, Germany (Indoor carpet) | Saarbrücken, Germany (Indoor carpet) | | | | | Switzerland | 2 |
| Saarbrücken, Germany (Indoor carpet) | Saarbrücken, Germany (Indoor carpet) | Saarbrücken, Germany (Indoor carpet) | | | | 3 | Spain | 3 |
| 3 | Spain | 3 | | | | 3 | Spain | 3 |
| 3 | Spain | 3 | Madrid, Spain (Outdoor clay) | Madrid, Spain (Outdoor clay) | Madrid, Spain (Outdoor clay) | | | |
| | Germany | 2 | Madrid, Spain (Outdoor clay) | Madrid, Spain (Outdoor clay) | Madrid, Spain (Outdoor clay) | | | |
| | Germany | 2 | 3 | Spain | 3 | | | |
| Kiawah Island, SC, USA (Outdoor clay) | Kiawah Island, SC, USA (Outdoor clay) | Kiawah Island, SC, USA (Outdoor clay) | 3 | Spain | 3 | | | |
| Kiawah Island, SC, USA (Outdoor clay) | Kiawah Island, SC, USA (Outdoor clay) | Kiawah Island, SC, USA (Outdoor clay) | | United States | 2 | | | |
| | United States | 5 | | United States | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Netherlands | 0 | | | | | | |

## First round
### France vs. Belgium

| France 3 | Expo Centre, Ghent, Belgium 18–19 April 1998 Greenset hard (indoors) | Expo Centre, Ghent, Belgium 18–19 April 1998 Greenset hard (indoors) | Belgium 2 |
| 1 2 3 1 Sandrine Testud Sabine Appelmans 6 3 6 2     2 Sarah Pitkowski Dominique Van Roost 6 4 4 6 2 6   3 Sandrine Testud Dominique Van Roost 5 7 6$^7$ 7$^9$     4 Sarah Pitkowski Sabine Appelmans 4 6 6 3 6 1   5 Alexandra Fusai / Nathalie Tauziat Els Callens / Laurence Courtois 6 4 6 0 ||||

### Switzerland vs. Czech Republic

| Switzerland 4 | Rondo Hall, Brno, Czech Republic 18–19 April 1998 Supreme carpet (indoors) | Rondo Hall, Brno, Czech Republic 18–19 April 1998 Supreme carpet (indoors) | Czech Republic 1 |
| 1 2 3 1 Patty Schnyder Jana Novotná 6 3 2 6 3 6   2 Martina Hingis Adriana Gerši 6 2 6 1     3 Martina Hingis Jana Novotná 4 6 6 3 6 2   4 Patty Schnyder Adriana Gerši 6 3 6 3     5 Martina Hingis / Patty Schnyder Denisa Chládková / Ludmila Richterová 6 0 6 1 ||||

### Spain vs. Germany

| Spain 3 | Saarland Hall, Saarbrücken, Germany 18–19 April 1998 Supreme carpet (indoors) | Saarland Hall, Saarbrücken, Germany 18–19 April 1998 Supreme carpet (indoors) | Germany 2 |
| 1 2 3 1 Magüi Serna Andrea Glass 6 3 6$^3$ 7$^7$ 6 3   2 Conchita Martínez Jana Kandarr 1 6 6 1 5 7   3 Conchita Martínez Andrea Glass 6 3 3 6 2 6   4 Magüi Serna Jana Kandarr 6 3 6 4     5 Conchita Martínez / Magüi Serna Andrea Glass / Wiltrud Probst 6 4 7$^7$ 6$^5$ ||||

### United States vs. Netherlands

| United States 5 | East Beach T.C., Kiawah Island, SC, United States 18–19 April 1998 Har-Tru clay (outdoors) | East Beach T.C., Kiawah Island, SC, United States 18–19 April 1998 Har-Tru clay (outdoors) | Netherlands 0 |
| 1 2 3 1 Lindsay Davenport Amanda Hopmans 6 4 6 1     2 Monica Seles Miriam Oremans 6 1 6 2     3 Lindsay Davenport Miriam Oremans 6 1 6 2     4 Monica Seles Amanda Hopmans 6 1 6 2     5 Mary Joe Fernández / Lisa Raymond Manon Bollegraf / Caroline Vis 6 1      retired ||||

## Semifinals
### France vs. Switzerland

| France 0 | Tourbillon Stadium, Sion, Switzerland 25–26 July 1998 Red clay (outdoors) | Tourbillon Stadium, Sion, Switzerland 25–26 July 1998 Red clay (outdoors) | Switzerland 5 |
| 1 2 3 1 Julie Halard-Decugis Martina Hingis 5 7 1 6     2 Amélie Mauresmo Patty Schnyder 5 7 6 2 3 6   3 Amélie Mauresmo Martina Hingis 7$^8$ 6$^6$ 4 6 2 6   4 Julie Halard-Decugis Patty Schnyder 3 6 2 6     5 Alexandra Fusai / Nathalie Tauziat Emmanuelle Gagliardi / Patty Schnyder 6 2 3 6 3 6 ||||

### Spain vs. United States

| Spain 3 | Campo Villa T.C., Madrid, Spain 25–26 July 1998 Red clay (outdoors) | Campo Villa T.C., Madrid, Spain 25–26 July 1998 Red clay (outdoors) | United States 2 |
| 1 2 3 1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Lisa Raymond 6$^4$ 7$^7$ 6 3 6 0   2 Conchita Martínez Monica Seles 3 6 6 3 1 6   3 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Monica Seles 4 6 0 6     4 Conchita Martínez Lisa Raymond 7$^7$ 6$^1$ 6 4     5 Conchita Martínez / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Mary Joe Fernández / Lisa Raymond 6 4 6$^5$ 7$^7$ 11 9 ||||

## Final
### Switzerland vs. Spain

| Switzerland 2 | Palexpo Hall, Geneva, Switzerland 19–20 September 1998 Greenset hard (indoors) | Palexpo Hall, Geneva, Switzerland 19–20 September 1998 Greenset hard (indoors) | Spain 3 |
| 1 2 3 1 Patty Schnyder Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 2 6 6 3 2 6   2 Martina Hingis Conchita Martínez 6 4 6 4     3 Martina Hingis Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7$^7$ 6$^5$ 6 3     4 Patty Schnyder Conchita Martínez 3 6 6 2 7 9   5 Martina Hingis / Patty Schnyder Conchita Martínez / Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 0 6 2 6 ||||
* 1998 Fed Cup Champions
* Spain Fifth title