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Fed Cup draw pits USA against Belgium, France against Russia
Moscow, Nov 19: Draw held for Fed Cup tennis semifinals in Moscow. The draw was made in Russia on Tuesday (November 18) for the Fed Cup semi-finals beginning in Moscow on Wednesday.
Moscow, Nov 19: Draw held for Fed Cup tennis semifinals in Moscow. The draw was made in Russia on Tuesday (November 18) for the Fed Cup semi-finals beginning in Moscow on Wednesday.
The USA take on a young and inexperienced Belgium team while in the other semifinal, France face a tough challenge against the host nation. Both the USA and Belgium are missing their best players.
The Belgians are without Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, ranked number one and two in the world, while the Americans are missing the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati and Chanda Rubin.
Both Henin-Hardenne and Clijsters decided to pull out of the final four after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) chose the Russian capital over a Belgian venue.
In their absence, Belgium are clear underdogs, with unheralded Els Callens leading the 2001 champions against a strong American side, which includes 47-year-old Martina Navratilova -- the oldest player to compete in the 40-year history of the Fed Cup. Navratilova has a unique record in Fed Cup matches with 37 wins and no losses.
USA captain Bille Jean King said in Moscow on Tuesday: "I think Martina's been a great added addition to this team because we have very young players all the way up to someone who's 47. Its fantastic and the chemistry is just the greatest. It's probably the most relaxed team I've ever coached."
Navratilova herself said of facing a young and inexperienced Belgium team: "It's going to be more dangerous in a way because they don't know what pressure is. But I will still take experience over youth and we have a very good experienced team. But it's difficult to know what to expect because we really only know Els Callens; the other three girls we really haven't seen play much."
One of those other three girls, 17-year-old Kirsten Flipkens said: "They have already a lot of experience and I have not. I mean, Navratilova's 30 years older than me so I mean I look up to her, I mean she's a legend.
"But still, we're here to play tennis and we will do our best because if you are on the court you cannot have any -- you cannot look up to the player you're playing against, so I think I'm just going to do my best and without looking up to the one I play against," said Flipkens.
Amelie Mauresmo of France acknowledged the challenge facing her team. "We knew we were going to have a tough match anyway in the semifinal. It's a great team this Russian team with a lot of tough players so, you know we're ready to go, ready to give 100 per cent and we'll see how it goes."
The draw for the 2003 Fed Cup Semifinals took place in Moscow on Tuesday (November 18) and is as follows: Belgium v USA Els Callens (BEL) v Lisa Raymond (USA) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) Els Callens (BEL) v Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Lisa Raymond (USA) Elke Clijsters/Caroline Maes (BEL) v Martina Navratilova/Lisa Raymond (USA)
Russia v France Vera Zvonareva (RUS) v Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) Anastasia Myskina (RUS) v Mary Pierce (FRA) Anastasia Myskina (RUS) v Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) v Mary Pierce (FRA) Elena Dementieva/Nadia Petrova (RUS) v Emilie Loit/Mary Pierce (FRA)
Bureau Report
USA captain Bille Jean King said in Moscow on Tuesday: "I think Martina's been a great added addition to this team because we have very young players all the way up to someone who's 47. Its fantastic and the chemistry is just the greatest. It's probably the most relaxed team I've ever coached."
Navratilova herself said of facing a young and inexperienced Belgium team: "It's going to be more dangerous in a way because they don't know what pressure is. But I will still take experience over youth and we have a very good experienced team. But it's difficult to know what to expect because we really only know Els Callens; the other three girls we really haven't seen play much."
One of those other three girls, 17-year-old Kirsten Flipkens said: "They have already a lot of experience and I have not. I mean, Navratilova's 30 years older than me so I mean I look up to her, I mean she's a legend.
"But still, we're here to play tennis and we will do our best because if you are on the court you cannot have any -- you cannot look up to the player you're playing against, so I think I'm just going to do my best and without looking up to the one I play against," said Flipkens.
Amelie Mauresmo of France acknowledged the challenge facing her team. "We knew we were going to have a tough match anyway in the semifinal. It's a great team this Russian team with a lot of tough players so, you know we're ready to go, ready to give 100 per cent and we'll see how it goes."
The draw for the 2003 Fed Cup Semifinals took place in Moscow on Tuesday (November 18) and is as follows: Belgium v USA Els Callens (BEL) v Lisa Raymond (USA) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) Els Callens (BEL) v Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) v Lisa Raymond (USA) Elke Clijsters/Caroline Maes (BEL) v Martina Navratilova/Lisa Raymond (USA)
Russia v France Vera Zvonareva (RUS) v Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) Anastasia Myskina (RUS) v Mary Pierce (FRA) Anastasia Myskina (RUS) v Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) v Mary Pierce (FRA) Elena Dementieva/Nadia Petrova (RUS) v Emilie Loit/Mary Pierce (FRA)
Bureau Report