Fed Cup Preview
By Chris Davies
April 29 2003
The Fed Cup starts on Wednesday running through till Friday including all the top players and countries taking part in the 40th Fed Cup tournament
Argentina v Slovenia
World Group - 1st Round
Mayling Club de Campo
Stadium Capacity: 1,200
25 April - 26 April 2003
Day 1: 1100 hrs (GMT 1400 hrs)
Day 2: 1000 hrs (GMT 1300 hrs)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Outdoors
These two nations have never met in 40 years of Fed Cup, with this weekend's first round tie marking Slovenia's debut in the elite World Group. Argentina is currently ranked three places higher on the Fed Cup Nations Rankings and will be looking to take advantage of home soil. Slovenia should win this match has Srebotnik and Pisnik have played well on clay this year, Pisnik scared Justine Henin-Hardenne a few weeks back taking her to 3 sets.
Argentina
Maria-Emilia Salerni
Natalia Gussoni
Natalia Garbellott
Slovenia
Katarina Srebotnik
Maja Matevzic
Tina Pisnik
Tina Krizan
USA v Czech Republic
The Paul E. Tsongas Arena, Lowell, USA
Stadium Capacity: 6,000
26 April - 27 April 2003
Day 1: 1300 hrs (GMT 1700 hrs)
Day 2: 1300 hrs (GMT 1700 hrs)
Surface: Hard (Plexipave) - Indoors
The stage is set for a great contest between two of the foremost nations in women's tennis. The United States has won seven of its nine Fed Cup meetings with the Czech Republic, but the nations last met in 1994. The American's are only ranked number 4 in the Fed Cup rankings, behind Slovak Republic, Spain and Belguim.
USA
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Meghann Shaughnessy
Alexandra Stevenson
Czech Republic
Daja Bedanova
Klara Koukalova
Iveta Benesova
Eva Birnerova
Sweden v Italy
Stangebro Icehall, Linkoping, SWE
Stadium Capacity: 5,000
26 April - 27 April 2003
Day 1: 1400 hrs tbc (GMT 1200 hrs)
Day 2: 1200 hrs tbc (GMT 1000 hrs)
Surface: Hard (Premier) - Indoors
These nations are well known to each other in Fed Cup, having also faced each other in the first round last year. Italy made the most of home advantage then to win, and has won all three of their previous encounters, but 2003 marks the first time the nations have met in Sweden.
Sweden
Sofia ARVIDSSON
Maria WOLFBRANDT
Aleksandra SRNDOVIC
Hanna NOONI
Italy
Flavia PENNETTA
Antonella SERRA ZANETTI
Mara SANTANGELO
Roberta VINC
Belgium v Austria
Expodroom Bree, Bree, BEL
Stadium Capacity: 3,500
26 April - 27 April 2003
Day 1: 1415 hrs tbc (GMT 1215 hrs tbc)
Day 2: 1330 hrs tbc (GMT 1130 hrs tbc)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Indoors
Belguim have a very strong team with Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters playing on the red clay are the two players of the moment with Clijsters climbing to number 2 and Henin-Hardenne beating Serena Williams 2 weeks ago. Aswell as the double specialist Els Callens are the team to beat at the tournament this year. Only good player Austria possess at the moment is Barbara Schett whose form as gone downhill in recent months.
Belgium
Kim CLIJSTERS
Justine HENIN-HARDENNE
Els CALLENS
Caroline MAES
Austria
Patricia WARTUSCH
Barbara SCHETT
Evelyn FAUTH
Sybillie BAMMER
Germany v Slovak Republic
TC Ettenheim, Ettenheim, GER
Stadium Capacity: 2,200
26 April - 27 April 2003
Day 1: 1300 hrs tbc (GMT 1100 hrs tbc)
Day 2: 1200 hrs tbc (GMT 1000 hrs tbc)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Outdoors
Germany
Anca BARNA
Marlene WEINGARTNER
Barbara RITTNER
Martina MULLER
Slovak Republic
Daniela HANTUCHOVA
Henrieta NAGYOVA
Lubomira KURHAJCOVA
Eva FISLOVA
Slovakia are the defending champions after winning the tournament last year face Germany. Germany have never lost to Slovak Republic making it a more dangerous match for the defending champions. Slovakia have their biggest weapon with Daniela Hantuchova who is having an indifferent year to last year but still remains a strong player against anybody. Anca Barna maybe the biggest challenge after taking Monica Seles to three sets and coming close to winning that match at last weeks Bausch and Lomb Championships. The Slovak's are number one in the Fed Cup rankings.
Russia v Croatia
Universal Sports Hall 'Druzhba', Moscow, RUS
Stadium Capacity: 3,500
26 April - 27 April 2003
Day 1: 1400 hrs tbc (GMT 1000 hrs)
Day 2: 1300 hrs tbc (GMT 0900 hrs)
Surface: Carpet (Taraflex) - Indoors
Russia
Anastasia MYSKINA
Elena BOVINA
Elena DEMENTIEVA
Tatiana PANOVA
Croatia
Iva MAJOLI
Karolina SPREM
Darija JURAK
Matea MEZAK
Russia probably possess the strongest team of talented players which should see them coast through to the next stage as Croatia struggle to keep up with the fast serves and big hitting of Myskina, Bovina and Dementieva. Majoli would pose a threat if the tie was on clay but unfortunately it isn't. Dementieva still riding high on her first title win may be a bit tired so might only play doubles.
Spain v Australia
Club Tenis Tarragona, Tarragona, ESP
Stadium Capacity: 1000
26 April - 27 April 2003
Day 1: 1130 hrs (GMT 0930 hrs)
Day 2: 1130 hrs (GMT 0930 hrs)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Outdoors
Spain
Conchita MARTINEZ
Virginie RUANO-PASCUAL
Magui SERNA
Anabel MEDINA-GARRIGUES
Australia
Alicia MOLIK
Nicole PRATT
Samantha STOSUR
Rennae STUBBS
This will probably be the tigthest ties of this stages, Spain look strong favourites as it's at home and on red clay but the Australian's have played good clay court tennis this year. Molik reached the final's of last weeks Budapest Grand Prix losing to Magui Serna but only after the Spaniard fought her way to victory. Virginie Ruano Pascual will probably team up with Anabel Medina-Garrigues in the doubles with them almost certainly facing Rennae Stubbs could be the match that decides who goes through. The Spaniards have never lost on clay to Australia.
France v Colombia
Palais de Sports des Bullieux, Andrezieux-Boutheon, FRA
Stadium Capacity: 2,000
26 April - 27 April 2003
Day 1: 1400 hrs (GMT 1200 hrs)
Day 2: 1330 hrs (GMT 1130 hrs)
Surface: Clay (Red Clay) - Indoors
France
Amelie MAURESMO
Emilie LOIT
Nathalie DECHY
Virginie RAZZANO
Colombia
Fabiola ZULUAGA
Catalina CASTANO
Rommy FARAH
Carolina ESCAMILLA
Mauresmo has not played on clay this year and could be at a disadvantage if she is to play against Zuluaga who is fantastic on clay, winning a title this year in Bogota. Zuluaga is the only strong player the Colombian's have but could challenge the French. The Colombians are unknown to the tennis world so nerves could get the better of them meaning France progress.