Croatia brings weakened team to Belgium.

Fed Cup News
By Etienne Stekelenburg
April 19 2004

The Croatian Fed Cup team is forced to come up with a lesser strong team due to the withdrawl of both Karolina Sprem (#32) and Silvija Talaja (#99). Ivana Lisjak (#185) and Darija Jurak (#189) will be the substitutes against Belgium.

Favourites Belgium will meet Croatia on indoor clay in Kim Clijsters’ hometown Bree. Kim and Elke Clijsters, Kirsten Flipkens and Els Callens have been selected for the Belgian team since Justine Henin-Hardenne announced not to play Fed Cup tournaments that don’t fit in her schedule.

The weakened Croatian team brings Jelena Kostanic, Iva Majoli, Ivana Lisjak and Darija Jurak.

This is the third time both nations meet in the Fed Cup competition. The head-to-head is one all since Croatia won their first meeting in 1993 and the Belgian team won their revenge match in 1995.

Spain will meet Switzerland for the second time in the Fed Cup. The first time both nations competed each other Spain was the favorite going into the 1998 final. The final turned out a strong battle of two nations who could bring on top players like Aranxta Sanchez, Conchita Martinez, Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder. Spain took the victory after a deciding fifth doubles rubber. After the last match between Martinez and Schnyder at the Family Circle Cup, which ended up in a row between the two players, it will be an interesting meeting on red clay at the Centro Tenis La Manga Club in Spain.

Spain:
Virginia Ruano Pascual, Conchita Martinez, Marta Marrero and Maria Sanchez Lorrenzo.

Switzerland:
Patty Schnyder, Emmanuele Gagliardi, Myriam Casanova and Martina Lautenschlager.

Reigning Fed Cup Champion France will be up against Germany for the fifth time. In their last meeting Germany came out as the winners but that was 15 years ago. The meeting between the two neighbouring countries who participate in the Fed Cup from the very first start will be held in Amiens in France. The fifteen-year-old 2-2 head-to-head tie will be broken at last.

France:
Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce, Emilie Loit and Nathalie Dechy.

Germany:
Marlene Weingartner, Barbara Rittner, Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Julia Schruff.

Italy is up against the Czech Republic both nations are competing in the Fed Cup since 1963. This is the fifth Fed Cup meeting between the two countries. Czechoslovakia / The Czech Republic won the first three meetings, Italy won the last matchup in 1998. The competition will be held in Lecce Italy on outdoors red clay.

Italy:
Francesca Schiavone, Silvia Farina Elia, Maria-Elena Camerin and Mara Santangelo.

Czech Republic:
Libuse Prusova, Klara Koukalova, Nicole Vaidisova and Barbora Strycova.

Japan is leading the head-to-head to first round opponents Argentina 3-2. The last meeting was won by the Argentinian on Japanese soil. This meeting will be held on the outdoor red clay at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

Argentina:
Paola Suarez, Gisela Dulko, Mariana Diaz-Oliva and Patricia Tarabini.

Japan:
Ai Sugiyama, Shinobu Asagoe, Akiko Morigami and Saori Obata.

Last years finalists Russia meet Australia for the sixth time. Australia leads the head-to-head 3-2. Russia won the last two encounters. Russia did choose for a Taraflex Carpet Court at the indoor Sports Arena Luzhniki in Moscow.

Russia:
Anastasia Myskina, Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova.

Australia:
Alicia Molik, Nicole Pratt, Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs.

Austria will be up against The Slovak Republic who is a past Fed Cup Champion. In 2002 Slovak Republic defeated Spain in the final. The first meeting between the two nations was won by Austria, their best result is a semifinal at the Fed Cup competition. The Austrian team did choose for an outdoor red clay court in St. Polten.

Austria:
Barbara Schett, Partricia Wartusch, Barbara Schwartz and Sybille Bammer.

Slovak Republic:
Janette Husarova, Ludmilla Cervanova, Lubomira Kurhajcova and Martina Sucha.

Slovenia is meeting the USA for the very first time in the Fed Cup. The USA is holding 17 Fed Cup titles and selected a new Team Captain in Zina Garrison. Slovenia is competing in the elite group for the second time. Slovenia is hoping to sell 2550 tickets for the matchup on red clay at the outdoor court in Portoroz.

Slovenia:
Katarina Srebotnik, Maja Matevzic, Tina Pisnik and Tina Krizan.

USA:
Laura Granville, Venus Williams, Martina Navratilova and Lisa Raymond.