'Where?' and 'Who?' are big questions for U.S.-Belgium semifinal
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
July 21, 2003
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States faces a compelling semifinal against
Belgium in the Fed Cup in November, one that could feature the top four
players in the world.
First, two questions must be answered: Will there be Williamsses? Will there
be clay?
"Ooooh," said Italian captain Corrado Barazzutti, asked to handicap the match.
"I think it's a very exciting match. It depends on who is going to play for
the United States. That is the problem, no? Because if two Williams play,
maybe America has more chance."
The Americans didn't need top-ranked Serena and No. 4 Venus Williams as they
completed a 5-0 quarterfinal victory over Italy on Sunday. Monica Seles,
Lindsay Davenport or Jennifer Capriati also didn't play for various reasons,
but Chanda Rubin and Meghann Shaughnessy displayed the U.S. depth by dropping
just one set in a 4-0 run in singles.
Belgium, though, is a different matter. French Open finalists Justine Henin-
Hardenne and Kim Clijsters are second and third in the WTA rankings. They led
a 5-0 sweep of Slovakia over the weekend, and they no doubt would love to get
the Americans at home on the Belgians' best surface, clay.
"We look forward to playing the United States," Clijsters said. "We're getting
better."
The venue will be determined by a bidding process among the final four
countries, like the bidding for an Olympics but on a much smaller scale.
Bids must be submitted by Aug. 13 to the International Tennis Federation,
which will announce its decision by Aug. 27. The winner hosts both the
semifinals and finals the week of Nov. 17.
France will face Russia in the other semifinal. France eliminated host Spain
4-1 Sunday, while Russia won 5-0 at Slovenia.
"Of course I'd like it in the United States because we choose the surface,
no question," U.S. captain Billie Jean King said. "I think wherever we play,
our job is to adjust to whatever the conditions are."
King said she'll use the world rankings to choose her semifinal team, going
down the list until she gets a team. She didn't have to go far when she got
both Williams sisters to play in the first round in April, but the team that
faced the Italy wasn't assembled until the last possible moment.
Even Rubin, making her first Fed Cup appearance in four years, didn't want
to commit to the semifinals just yet.
"Whoever plays for the U.S., we're going to have a good team," Rubin said.
"We also have some of the best players in the world, and the best depth in
the world."
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