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Belgium raring to go for Fed Cup clash against Slovakia
Charleroi, July 19: Belgium are hot favourites to go through to the quarter finals of the Fed Cup this weekend.
Charleroi, July 19: Belgium are hot favourites to go through to the quarter finals of the Fed Cup this weekend.
Champions in 2001, Belgium are in much better shape than their opponents and holders Slovakia. The Belgians boast world numbers two and three Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne for the Charleroi clash.
Slovakia, however, are without world number nine Daniela Hantuchova. Instead they are led by 69th-ranked Janette Husarova.
Last year nobody could stop the Slovaks from winning the Fed Cup title, beating Spain in a thrilling final. But on Saturday the Spiroudome in Charleroi they need more than a miracle to stop the brilliant Belgians who won the famous Rose Bowl Trophy in 2001.
The Slovak Republic, stripped not just of the services of Hantuchova, but also Henrieta Nagyova, Martina Sucha and Ludmila Cervanova, a late withdrawal due to a shoulder injury, field a team led by Husarova, 94th-ranked Lubomira Kurhajcova, Eva Fislova (104) and Jarmila Gajdosova (241).
A close contest is not expected. Slovakia captain Tomas Malik declared his team to be "underdogs". He said that the home nation was clearly favourite. "We have a good team but it will be difficult to win this tie."
The Belgians will not underestimate their Eastern European opponents. They know that in Fed Cup everything can happen. Furthermore the Slovakians have shown that they can achieve greatness through strong team spirit, defeating nations that should easily beat them.
"Just one injury can make all our plans go up in smoke" Belgian captain Ivo Van Aken commented.
However Ivo Van Aken's team should be too strong to allow any thoughts of a repeat of the triumph the Slovaks had enjoyed in 1998 when they defeated Belgium's Dominique Van Roost and Sabine Appelmans in Bratislava 4-1.
Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne met in the 2003 French Open final, where 21-year-old Henin-Hardenne surpassed most people's expectations to become the first Belgian to capture a Grand Slam title.
In contrast to the continued progress of the two Belgians, Hantuchova's poor recent form forced her to change her schedule and miss this tie. The tall, slender Slovakian had started the season as a serious contender at all major events, but her absence has swung the tie firmly in Belgium's favour.
In the other quarter finals a patched-up United States take on Italy, Slovenia play Russia and Spain play France. What had looked like a straightforward clash for the Americans has now taken on an edgier aspect after the withdrawal of Venus Williams and Monica Seles through injuries.
Their line-up for the quarter-final will bear no resemblance to the side which romped to a 5-0 victory over the Czech Republic in the first round, Venus and Serena Williams doing the damage on that occasion.
Instead the U.S. team will be led by Chanda Rubin, backed up by Meghann Shaughnessy, Lisa Raymond and the erratic Alexandra Stevenson.
With all four players in the world's top 30, the U.S. team is by no means one of also-rans, but it is still very much second rate compared to the imposing sides the States have boasted in the past.
The Italian line-up of Francesca Schiavone, Rita Grande, Tathiana Garbin and Antonella Serra Zanetti will certainly fancy their chances of leaving Washington with a win.
Schedule of play: SaturdayJustine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v Janette Husarova (SVK) Kim Clijsters (BEL) v Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK)
Sunday Kim Clijsters (BEL) v Janette Husarova (SVK) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK) Els Callens/Caroline Maes (BEL) v Janette Husarova/Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK)
Bureau Report
A close contest is not expected. Slovakia captain Tomas Malik declared his team to be "underdogs". He said that the home nation was clearly favourite. "We have a good team but it will be difficult to win this tie."
The Belgians will not underestimate their Eastern European opponents. They know that in Fed Cup everything can happen. Furthermore the Slovakians have shown that they can achieve greatness through strong team spirit, defeating nations that should easily beat them.
"Just one injury can make all our plans go up in smoke" Belgian captain Ivo Van Aken commented.
However Ivo Van Aken's team should be too strong to allow any thoughts of a repeat of the triumph the Slovaks had enjoyed in 1998 when they defeated Belgium's Dominique Van Roost and Sabine Appelmans in Bratislava 4-1.
Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne met in the 2003 French Open final, where 21-year-old Henin-Hardenne surpassed most people's expectations to become the first Belgian to capture a Grand Slam title.
In contrast to the continued progress of the two Belgians, Hantuchova's poor recent form forced her to change her schedule and miss this tie. The tall, slender Slovakian had started the season as a serious contender at all major events, but her absence has swung the tie firmly in Belgium's favour.
In the other quarter finals a patched-up United States take on Italy, Slovenia play Russia and Spain play France. What had looked like a straightforward clash for the Americans has now taken on an edgier aspect after the withdrawal of Venus Williams and Monica Seles through injuries.
Their line-up for the quarter-final will bear no resemblance to the side which romped to a 5-0 victory over the Czech Republic in the first round, Venus and Serena Williams doing the damage on that occasion.
Instead the U.S. team will be led by Chanda Rubin, backed up by Meghann Shaughnessy, Lisa Raymond and the erratic Alexandra Stevenson.
With all four players in the world's top 30, the U.S. team is by no means one of also-rans, but it is still very much second rate compared to the imposing sides the States have boasted in the past.
The Italian line-up of Francesca Schiavone, Rita Grande, Tathiana Garbin and Antonella Serra Zanetti will certainly fancy their chances of leaving Washington with a win.
Schedule of play: SaturdayJustine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v Janette Husarova (SVK) Kim Clijsters (BEL) v Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK)
Sunday Kim Clijsters (BEL) v Janette Husarova (SVK) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK) Els Callens/Caroline Maes (BEL) v Janette Husarova/Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK)
Bureau Report