2004 Fed Cup Draws & Results

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World Group 2004 - 1st Round
USA at Slovenia on outdoor clay
Slovak Republic at Austria on outdoor clay
Australia at Russia on indoor carpet
Japan at Argentina on outdoor clay

Czech Republic at Italy on outdoor clay
Germany at France on indoor clay
Switzerland at Spain on outdoor clay
Croatia at Belgium on indoor clay

1st Round Results of World Group
USA d Slovenia 4 - 1
Austria d Slovak Republic 3 - 2
Russia d Australia 4 - 1
Argentina d Japan 4 - 1
Italy d Czech Republic 3 - 1
France d Germany 5 - 0
Spain d Switzerland 3 - 2
Belgium d Croatia 3 - 2

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[glow=red,2,300]Group A[/glow]
Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador

20 April
Mexico defeated Colombia 3-0
Marcela Arroyo (MEX) d. Andrea Giraldo (COL) 62 62
Daniela Munoz (MEX) d. Karen Castiblanco (COL)63 62
Melissa Torres/Graciela Velez (MEX) d. Karen Castiblanco/Andrea Giraldo (COL) 60 62

El Salvador defeated Puerto Rico 2-1
Miriam Cruz (ESA) d. Bianca Gorbea (PUR) 61 63
Vilmarie Castellvi (PUR) d. Liz Cruz (ESA) 62 61
Liz Cruz/Marcela-Ivon Hernandez (ESA) d. Vilmarie Castellvi/Bianca Gorbea (PUR) 67(5) 76(4) 64

21 April
Colombia defeated Puerto Rico 2-1
Andrea Giraldo (COL) d. Maria Calbeto (PUR) 62 36 119
Vilmarie Castellvi (PUR) d. Karen Castiblanco (COL) 63 61
Karen Castiblanco/Andrea Giraldo (COL) d. Maria Calbeto/Vilmarie Castellvi (PUR) 63 57 63

Mexico defeated El Salvador 3-0
Marcela Arroyo (MEX) d. Miriam Cruz (ESA) 64 61
Daniela Munoz (MEX) d. Liz Cruz (ESA) 75 62
Melissa Torres/Graciela Velez (MEX) d. Liz Cruz/Marcela-Ivon Rodezno-Hernandez (ESA) 64 75

22 April
El Salvador defeated Colombia 2-0
Miriam Cruz (ESA) d. Andrea Giraldo (COL) 64 61
Liz Cruz (ESA) d. Karen Castiblanco (COL) 63 61

Mexico defeated Puerto Rico 3-0
Melissa Torres (MEX) d. Bianca Gorbea (PUR) 63 61
Daniela Munoz (MEX) d. Vilmarie Castellvi (PUR) 76(2) 62
Melissa Torres/Graciela Velez (MEX) d. Vilmarie Castellvi/Bianca Gorbea (PUR) 62 ret

Final Positions: 1. Mexico, 2. El Salvador, 3. Colombia, 4. Puerto Rico


[glow=red,2,300]Group B[/glow]
Canada, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Cuba

19 April
Canada defeated Cuba 3-0
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Yamile Fors-Guerra (CUB) 62 61
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) d. Yanet Nunez-Mojarena (CUB) 60 63
Melanie Marois/Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) d. Yamile Fors-Guerra/Yanet Nunez-Mojarena (CUB) 63 62

Chile defeated Uruguay 2-1
Valentina Castro (CHI) d. Maria-Eugenia Roca (URU) 46 63 61
Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon (URU) d. Andrea Koch (CHI) 63 62
Valentina Castro/Andrea Koch (CHI) d. Camila Belassi/Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon (URU) 16 75 61

20 April
Brazil defeated Uruguay 3-0
Carla Tiene (BRA) d. Maria-Eugenia Roca 62 63
Maria Fernanda Alves (BRA) d. Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon(URU) 62 76(6)
Maria Fernanda Alves/Carla Tiene (BRA) d. Camila Belassi/Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon(URU) 61 61

Cuba defeated Chile 2-1
Yamile Fors-Guerra (CUB) d. Valentina Castro (CHI) 75 63
Andrea Koch (CHI) d. Yanet Nunez-Mojarena 57 60 60
Yamile Fors-Guerra/Yanet Nunez-Mojarena (CUB) d. Valentina Castro/Andrea Koch (CHI) 61 61

21 April
Brazil defeated Chile 3-0
Larissa Carvalho (BRA) d. Valentina Castro (CHI) 26 75 61
Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA) d. Andrea Koch (CHI) 62 61
Maria-Fernanda Alves/Carla Tiene (BRA) d. Valentina Castro/Andrea Koch (CHI) 62 63

Canada defeated Uruguay 3-0
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Camila Belassi (URU) 61 61
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) d. Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon (URU) 64 46 63
Melanie Marois/Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) d. Camila Belassi/Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon (URU) 62 61

22 April
Canada defeated Brazil 2-1
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Carla Tiene (BRA) 63 63
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) d. Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA) 64 63
Maria-Fernanda Alves/Carla Tiene (BRA) d. Melanie Marois/Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) 62 62

Cuba defeated Uruguay 2-1
Yamile Fors-Guerra (CUB) d. Maria-Eugenia Roca (URU) 63 62
Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon (URU) d. Yanet Nunez-Mojarena (CUB) 61 62
Yamile Fors-Guerra/Yanet Nunez-Mojarena (CUB) d. Camila Belassi/Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon (URU) 62 61

23 April
Brazil defeated Cuba 2-0
Carla Tiene (BRA) d. Yamile Fors-Guerra (CUB) 63 60
Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA) d. Yanet Nunez-Mojarena (CUB) 64 64
doubles not played

Canada defeated Chile 2-0
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Valentina Castro (CHI) 63 61
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) d. Andrea Koch (CHI) 60 60
doubles not played

Final Positions: 1. Canada, 2. Brazil, 3. Cuba, 4. Chile, 5. Uruguay


The schedule for Saturday is as follows:

Promotion play-offs
-Brazil v Mexico
-Canada v El Salvador

Relegation play-offs
- Colombia v Uruguay
- Puerto Rico v Chile

Play-off
24 April
Brazil defeated Mexico 2-0
Carla Tiene (BRA) d. Marcela Arroyo (MEX) 61 62
Maria-Fernanda Alves (BRA) d. Daniela Munoz (MEX) 60 61

Canada defeated El Salvador 2-0
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Miriam Cruz (ESA) 60 60
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) d. Liz Cruz (ESA) 62 64

Relegation Play-off
24 April
Uruguay defeated Colombia 2-0
Maria-Eugenia Roca (URU) d. Gabriela Mejia (COL) 64 64
Ana-Lucia Migliarini De Leon (URU) d. Karen Castiblanco (COL) 60 61

Puerto Rico defeated Chile 2-1
Valentina Castro (CHI) d. Maria Calbeto (PUR) 62 61
Vilmarie Castellvi (PUR) d. Andrea Koch (CHI) 75 64
Kristina Brandi/Vilmarie Castellvi (PUR) d. Valentina Castro/Andrea Koch (CHI) 62 61

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World Group
USA at Austria on outdoor clay
Russia at Argentina on outdoor clay
France at Italy on outdoor clay
Belgium at Spain on outdoor clay


World Group Playoffs
Australia at Thailand
Croatia at Brazil
Czech Republic at Estonia
Germany at Ukraine
Japan at Bulgaria
Belarus at Slovak Republic
Slovenia at Indonesia
Switzerland at Canada

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Fed Cup Quarterfinal Preview[/u]
Action in this year's Fed Cup quarterfinal will get underway on Saturday as eight nations battle for four spots in the World Group semifinals. Here is a look at this weekend's ties.

Austria vs. United States
Location: Bergisel Stadion, Innsbruck, Austria
Surface: Red Clay (Outdoors)
Austrian Squad: Barbara Schett, Patricia Wartusch, Barbara Schwartz, Sybille Bammer, Alfred Tesur (Captain)
USA Squad: Jill Craybas, Chanda Rubin, Martina Navratilova, Lisa Raymond, Zina Garrison (Captain)

The United States and Austria will square off for the ninth time in Fed Cup play with the U.S. looking for its eighth victory against the Austrians. Despite playing without leading U.S. players such as Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Serena and Venus Williams, the United States will still bring a tough foursome to Austria that includes former Top 10 player Chanda Rubin and the tough doubles pairing of Navratilova and Raymond. But Austria, led by Barbara Schett, will look to use their home court advantage to pull off another Fed Cup upset in 2004.


Argentina vs. Russia
Location: Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Surface: Red Clay (Outdoors)
Argentine Squad: Paola Suarez, Gisela Dulko, Mariana Diaz-Oliva, Patricia Tarabini, Ricardo Rivera (Captain)
Russian Squad: Anastasia Myskina, Vera Zvonareva, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Elena Likhovtseva, Shamil Tarpischev (Captain)

For just the second time in Fed Cup action, Russia and Argentina will battle for a spot as one of the final four teams in reach of the 2004 Fed Cup title. With three Top 10 players on the squad - not including Wimbledon champion and current World No.8 Maria Sharapova - Russia brings a tough matchup to Argentina. But the Argentines will be at home on the red clay in Buenos Aires and will be led by Suarez and rising-star Dulko, both who thrive on the surface.


Italy vs. France
Location: Circolo Tennis Rimini, Rimini, Italy
Surface: Red Clay (Outdoors)
Italian Squad: Francesca Schiavone, Tathiana Garbin, Silvia Farina Elia, Roberta Vinci, Corrado Barazzutti (Captain)
French Squad: Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce, Emilie Loit, Tatiana Golovin, Guy Forget (Captain)

The French team will look to continue their Fed Cup domination of Italy's finest after assembling a perfect 5-0 mark in the previous ties between the two nations. As defending champions of the Fed Cup title, France has dominated just about everyone in recent Fed Cup play and march into Italy with perhaps their strongest roster of stars in the last two years, including 16-year-old Tatiana Golovin who will be making her debut. Italy will ask assistance from its most power pair of Schiavone and Farina Elia to take the home team into the semifinals.


Spain vs. Belgium
Location: Club Nazaret, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Surface: Red Clay (Outdoors)
Spanish Squad: Virginia Ruano Pascual, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Marta Marrero, Maria Sanchez Lorenzo, Miguel Margets (Captain)
Belgian Squad: Caroline Maes, Evelyne Van Hyfte, Kirsten Flipkens, Els Callens, Ivo Van Aken (Captain)

Facing a depleted Belgian squad, Spain could have the upper hand on home turf to break the current 3-3 tie in Fed Cup action between these two nations. Belgium is without World No.1 Henin-Hardenne and No.2 Clijsters, which could give Spain a considerable advantage at home on the red clay, where they will be led by Sanchez Lorenzo, Marrero and Medina Garrigues.

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World Group Play-off Draws
Draws for the World Group Play-off ties have now taken place, and are as follows.

Canada v Switzerland
Dorval Tennis Club, Dorval, CAN
Saturday
Stephanie Dubois (CAN) v Myriam Casanova (SUI)
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) v Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)
Sunday
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) v Myriam Casanova (SUI)
Stephanie Dubois (CAN) v Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)
Melanie Marois/Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) v Timea Bacsinszky/Myriam Casanova (SUI)

Brazil v Croatia
Clube Paineiras do Morumby, Sao Paulo, BRA
Saturday
Maria Fernanda Alves (BRA) v Ivana Abramovic (CRO)
Bruna Colosio (BRA) v Jelena Kostanic (CRO)
Sunday
Maria Fernanda Alves (BRA) v Jelena Kostanic (CRO)
Bruna Colosio (BRA) v Ivana Abramovic (CRO)
Maria Fernanda Alves/Carla Tiene (BRA) v Jelena Kostanic/Darija Jurak (CRO)

Estonia v Czech Republic
Kadrioru Tennis Centre, Tallinn, EST
Saturday
Margit Ruutel (EST) v Klara Koukalova (CZE)
Maret Ani (EST) v Barbora Strycova (CZE)
Sunday
Maret Ani (EST) v Klara Koukalova (CZE)
Margit Ruutel (EST) v Barbora Strycova (CZE)
Maret Ani/Marget Ruutel (EST) v Michaela Pastikova/Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Ukraine v Germany
Elite Tennis Club, Illichevsk, UKR
Saturday
Tatiana Perebiynis (UKR) v Barbara Rittner (GER)
Juliana Fedak (UKR) v Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)
Sunday
Tatiana Perebiynis (UKR) v Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)
Juliana Fedak (UKR) v Barbara Rittner (GER)
Yulia Beygelzimer/Tatiana Perebiymis (UKR) v Barbara Rittner/Jasmin Woehr (GER)

Indonesia v Slovenia
Gelora Bung Karno Tennis Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
Saturday
Angelique Widjaja (INA) v Katerina Srebotnik (SLO)
Wynne Prakusya (INA) v Tina Pisnik (SLO)
Sunday
Angelique Widjaja (INA) v Tina Pisnik (SLO)
Wynne Prakusya (INA) v Katerina Srebotnik (SLO)
Wynne Prakusya/Angelique Widjaja (INA) v Tina Krizan/Katerina Srebotnik (SLO)

Thailand v Australia
Indoor Stadium Hua Mark, Bangkapi, THA
Saturday
Suchanun Viratprasert (THA) v Nicole Pratt (AUS)
Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Sunday
Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) v Nicole Pratt (AUS)
Suchanun Viratprasert (THA) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Montinee Tangphong/Napaporn Tongsalee (THA) v Lisa McShea/Christina Wheeler (SUI)

Bulgaria v Japan
TC Locomotiv, Plovdiv, BUL
Saturday
Tzvetana Pironkova (BUL) v Shinobu Asagoe (JPN)
Dessislava Topalova (BUL) v Saori Obata (JPN)
Sunday
Dessislava Topalova (BUL) v Shinobu Asagoe (JPN)
Tzvetana Pironkova (BUL) v Saori Obata (JPN)
Maria Geznenge/Svetlana Krivencheva (BUL) v Rika Fujiwara/Yuka Yoshida (JPN)

Slovak Republic v Belarus
TK Slavia STU Agrofert, Bratislava, SVK
Saturday
Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK) v Tatiana Uvarova (BLR)
Martina Sucha (SVK) v Anastasia Yakimova (BLR)
Sunday
Lubomira Kurhajcova (SVK) v Anastasia Yakimova (BLR)
Martina Sucha (SVK) v Tatiana Uvarova (BLR)
Janette Husarova/Henrieta Nagyova (SVK) v Daria Kustava/Tatiana Poutchek (BLR)

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World Group 2004 ~ Quarterfinal2
Austria d USA 4 - 1
Russia d Argentina 4 - 1
France d Italy 3 - 2
Spain d Belgium 3 - 2


World Group, Playoffs 2004
Thailand d Australia 3 - 2
Croatia d Brazil 4 - 1
Czech Republic d Estonia 3 - 2
Germany d Ukraine 3 - 2
Japan d Bulgaria 3 - 2
Slovak Republic d Belarus 4 - 0
Indonesia d Slovenia 4 - 1
Switzerland d Canada 3-2

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Weekend Round-up

The line up for the Fed Cup World Group Semifinals is now confirmed after an exciting weekend of quarterfinal action. The Semifinals and Final will both take place the week commencing 22 November, with the venue confirmed at the beginning of August. Following the venue announcement, there will be a new draw to determine the semifinal match-ups.

Austria repeated its shock victory over the USA in 2002, defeating the top seeds 4-1 in Innsbruck to reach its second semifinal in three years. This time Barbara Schett was the heroine after scoring straight sets victories over Lisa Raymond and Chanda Rubin, although it was Barbara Schwartz who scored the decisive point with a three-hour 76 46 108 victory over Raymond.

Schwartz, the architect of Austria’s previous triumph over USA, is already looking forward to the semifinals after missing out in 2002. “I couldn’t go two years ago which hurt, so maybe we can win it this time. We will fight hard. Austria is such a small country, I am very proud.”<br>
There were no such problems for defending champions France, who won the first three rubbers en route to a 3-2 victory over Italy in Rimini. Amelie Mauresmo enjoyed straight sets wins over Silvia Farina Elia and Francesca Schiavone, while Mary Pierce also defeated Schiavone on the opening day.

Russia bounced back from the loss of the opening rubber to defeat Argentina 4-1 in Buenos Aires. Gisela Dulko defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 64 36 64 to give the hosts a 1-0 lead, but two victories for Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina and one for Vera Zvonareva saw Russia home.

Spain became only the fourth nation in Fed Cup history to recover from a 0-2 deficit when it defeated Belgium 3-2 in Jerez de la Frontera. Kirsten Flipkens and Els Callens both scored three-set victories to give Belgium a surprise 2-0 lead on the opening day. However Spain’s greater strength in depth proved decisive, the hosts winning all three rubbers on Sunday in straight sets.

There were several upsets in the World Group Play-offs, with Indonesia defeating Slovenia 4-1 in Jakarta and Thailand overcoming Australia 3-2 in Bangkok. Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Slovak Republic, Switzerland and Thailand are the eight teams to have qualified for 2005 World Group II.

[Chevina]

Go Russia!

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Countdown Begins to Semifinals and Final
Team practise is now underway in Moscow as the Russian capital gets ready to host the deciding stages of the 2004 Fed Cup competition this week. Russia, Austria, France and Spain are lining up for the semifinals on Wednesday and Thursday and, after a day’s break, the final will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

The weekend saw temperatures plummet and the first snowfall of the year. But competition is likely to be hotter inside the brand new Krylatskoe Ice Stadium. Russia – three times a Grand Slam nation this season – is staging the event for the second year running, this time at a new venue. With a 5,200 capacity, the home team are likely to receive strong support from fans hoping that an outstanding tennis year for their country can be capped with a first Fed Cup triumph.

First, Russia will have to get past Austria in the semifinals. Fielding two of this year’s Grand Slam champions in world No. 3 Anastasia Myskina and world No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova, the Russians also boast a 3-1 advantage in previous meetings with Austria. However the host nation was on the receiving end of a semifinal upset at the hands of France last year, and will be guarding against any complacency.

Defending champion France takes on five-times winner Spain in the other semifinal. The French are bidding to become the first nation since the United States in 1999-2000 to win two successive Fed Cup titles; victory for France would give the country its third title overall, and veteran team member Mary Pierce has the chance to be involved in all three. France leads Spain 4-2 in their head-to-head.

Looking ahead to the weekend’s final, Russia and France are tied 3-3 in previous meetings, while Russia leads both Austria and Spain 3-1. France leads Austria 4-0.

France will retain its position at No. 1 in the ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking unless it fails to make the final. If that happens, then the winner of the competition will take over in the top spot.

The nations will do battle on a fast carpet surface. Draw for the semifinals takes place on site at 14:00 local time this Tuesday, 23 November. On Friday, the Draw for the Final will be at 13:00, immediately followed by the Draw the 2005 Fed Cup competition. All draws, plus live scoring and the very latest news, photos and audio interviews will be available at www.fedcup.com throughout the week.