The Fed Cup World Group semifinals will be underway this weekend with some interesting clashes lying ahead.
World Group Semifinals
Spain vs Italy
First there’s the Italy vs Spain, in what will certainly prove to be a fearless and ferocious clay battle between two of the most well prepared nations on this surface. These teams will sqaure off in Zaragoza, Spain and will play, as mentioned before on the red dirt. In the head-to-head department the series are tied at 2 all. But the head-to-head record is the least important aspect of the clash since every time these teams played each other it happened in early stages of the competition. On their way to the semifinals Spain defeated Austria 5-0, while Italy score probably one of the upsets of the tournament by defeating two time defending runner-up France 4-1.
The nominated players for this seminfinal are:
Spain:
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Lourdes Dominguez-Lino
Maria Sanchez Lorenzo
Virgina Ruano Pascual
Italy:
Francesca Schiavone
Mara Santagelo
Flavia Pennetta
Romina Oprandi
On the first day of competition Medina Garrigues will take on Pennetta, while Dominguez-Lino will battle Francesca Schiavone. On Sunday, it’s the reverse singles and on the doubles rubber Ruano Pascual/ Sanchez Lorenz will take on Santangelo/Oprandi. Spain is a five-time champion, but Italy is yet to claim their first victory.
USA vs Belgium
The other semifinal will feature a strong Belgium team led by Kim Clijsters after Justine Henin-Hardenne pulled out stating lack of fitness after consecutive weeks of high level tennis. Clijsters will count on the help of her unexperienced team mates Leslie Butkiewicz, Kirsten Flipkens and Carolina Maes. The American side sees its best players out of the competition. But the show must go on so carrying the flag for the USA will be the rookie team composed of tour veterans Jill Craybas and Mashona Washington and tour up-and-comers Vania King and Jamea Jackson. Jackson and Craybas may prove to be major help for the USA as both have beaten top players this year with Jackson beating Sharapova in straight sets in Birmigham and Craybas having beaten Clijsters in Miami earlier in the year. Both countries have experienced victory in the past, with Begium winning the title in 2001 and the USA having won already 17 titles since the competition first started but going on a draught since 2000. The Americans lead the series 4-0.
The nominated players are:
USA:
Jill Craybas
Mashona Washington
Vania King
Jamea Jackson
Belgium:
Kim Clijsters
Leslie Butkiewicz
Kirsten Flipkens
Carolina Maes
On Saturday Craybas will play Flipens, while Clijsters will take on Jamea Jackson. On Sunday we will have the reverse singles and on the doubles rubber Leslie Butkiewicz/Carolina Maes will square off with Vania King/Mashona Washington.
Note that the assigned players for each match can be changed until an hour before the rubber.
