Can the Slovaks Stop Belgium?
Can the Slovaks Stop Belgium?
The draw for the Fed Cup World Group Quarterfinal between Belgium and Slovak
Republic in Charleroi has taken place.
Saturday
Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v Janette Husarova (SVK)
Kim Clijsters (BEL) v Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK)
Sunday
Kim Clijsters (BEL) v Janette Husarova (SVK)
Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK)
Els Callens/Caroline Maes (BEL) v Janette Husarova/Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK)
Last year nobody could stop the Slovaks from winning the Fed Cup title.
Talent and flair gave them the confidence to beat Spain. Tomorrow at the
Spiroudome in Charleroi they need more than a miracle to stop the brilliant
Belgians who won the famous Rose Bowl Trophy in 2001.
The Slovak Republic, stripped of the services of Daniela Hantuchova,
Henrieta Nagyova, Martina Sucha and Ludmila Cervanova (a late withdrawal
due to a shoulder injury), field a team led by Janette Husarova, ranked 63
in the world, Lubomira Kurhajcova (No. 94), Eva Fislova (No. 104) and
Jarmila Gajdosova (No. 241).
The bookmakers are not expecting a close contest. The Slovak Republic's
captain Tomas Malik declared his team to be "underdogs". He said that the
home nation was clearly favourite. "We have a good team but it will be
difficult to win this tie."
The Belgians will not underestimate their Eastern European opponents.
They know that in Fed Cup everything can happen. Furthermore the Slovak
Republic have shown that they can achieve greatness through strong team
spirit, defeating nations that should easily beat them.
"Just one injury can make all our plans go up in smoke" Belgium's ever
smiling captain Ivo Van Aken commented.
The Belgian fans hope that their famous Grand Slam players, Justine Henin
-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters will be forced to produce their very best tennis.
The crowd is looking forward to enjoying some three-set battles and many
turns of momentum.
However Ivo Van Aken's team should be too strong to allow any thoughts of
a repeat of the triumph the Slovaks had enjoyed in 1998 when they defeated
Belgium's Dominique Van Roost and Sabine Appelmans in Bratislava 4-1.
Clijsters is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, with Henin-Hardenne at
No. 3. The two players met in the 2003 Roland Garros final, where 21-year
-old Henin-Hardenne surpassed most people's expectations to become the first
Belgian to capture a Grand Slam title.
Belgium’s Dream Team is hoping to go all the way to become the Fed Cup
Champion Nation for the second time. In 2001 Clijsters, Henin, Els Callens
and Laurence Courtois won the world's largest women's annual team competition.
In contrast to the continued progress of Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne,
Daniela Hantuchova’s poor recent form forced her to change her schedule
and miss this tie. The tall, slender Slovakian had started the season as a
serious contender at all major events, but her absence has swung the tie
firmly in Belgium’s favour.
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