Fed Cup Semis Draw Two Great Matchups

The first-round action that concluded Sunday gives us two dazzling semifinals come spring: Italy vs. Russia and the Czech Republic vs. Belgium.

With Kim Clijsters leading the charge, Belgium is pretty much guaranteed two points in any given matchup. With the United States lacking either of the Williams sisters, she and Yanina Wickmayer combined for all four points in a 4-1 victory.

The Czech Republic took a dramatic 3-2 win over their sisters from the Slovak Republic, doing it on their opponents’ home turf thanks to Jana Cepelova and Magdalena Rybarikova’s 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(4) victory over Kveta Peschke and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Down 0-2 after the first day, the Czechs got a great bounce-back win from Daniela Hantuchova, and the good luck of Lucie Safarova’s injury that forced her to retire after splitting the first two sets against Cepelova.

The Czechs are currently ranked fourth with Belgium fifth. The Czechs are seeking their first appearance in a final since 1988, when then-Czechslovakia defeated the USSR, 2-1.

Czechoslovakia also made the finals in 1986 (lost to the USA, 3-0), 1985 (def. the USA, 2-1), 1984 (def. Australia 2-1) and 1983 (def. West Germany 2-1). Not surprisingly, all of those appearances came thanks in large part to Martina Navratilova.

Before 1983, the Czechs had not made the final since 1975. Belgium, meanwhile, made only one final, losing to Italy 3-2 in 2006.

The other matchup will feature two prominent tennis powerhouses in Italy and Russia. Like the Czech Republic, Russia rallied from down 0-2 on Saturday to win 3-2, defeating upstart France. 

Russia is currently ranked No. 2 in the Fed Cup rankings, with Italy, the two-time defending champion, No. 1. Russia has won four titles, Italy three.

Italy had no problem in routing Australia 4-1 in the first round, even beating Samantha Stosur twice, with Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone each taking the honors once.

On paper, at least, Italy might be the strongest of the field, with all four team members ranked in the top 45 in singles.

Russia’s near debacle against France was saved by the doubles combo of Dinara Safinaand Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who took a tough first-set tie-breaker, then sank Pauline Parmentier and Julie Coin 6-0 in the second set.

Russia is the only squad to claim two former No. 1s—Safina and Maria Sharapova—on its roster.

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