5/1/2000
BELGIUM IN THE FED CUP SEMI-FINALS!
It was unexpected. No one on the WTA Tour pictured it, but Belgium (a group of young girls and none of them the top ranked Belgians) is into the semifinals for Federation Cup. After a 3-0 win over Australia, France, and their latest victim Russia, the Belgian team has surprised many and earned the respect of many more! The French-speaking country first took out Australia with a 2-1 win. Their only loss was to the talented young Jelena Dokic, who beat Kim Clijsters 7-64, 5-7, 9-7 in a match that lasted over 2 hours. After the win over Australia, Belgium played the assumed winners France. However to everyone's dismay, Belgium won once again with a 2-1 final count. The upsets were made by Els Callens and Clijsters. Callens defeated the very gutsy Julie Halard-Decugis 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. The youngster Clijsters upset tour veteran Nathalie Tauziat with an easy 6-1 6-4 win. Finally, with another 2-1 finish, Belgium beat Russia for a final-four surprise. Belgium's very successful team of Els Callens and Laurence Courtois defeated Elena Likhovtseva and Anna Kournikova 6-4, 6-3. The other countries into the semi-final are defending champion USA, The famous Spanish Armada of Spain, and the neglected Czech Republic. The semi-finals will be played November 24-25, Belgium playing the US, Spain playing the Czech Republic. Here's a Belgium first round recap:
Belgium def. Australia 2-1
Laurence Courtois, Belgium, def. Nicole Pratt, Australia, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
Jelena Dokic, Australia, def. Kim Clijsters, Belgium, 7-64, 5-7, 9-7
Els Callens/Laurence Courtois, Belgium,
def.
Alicia Molik/Rennae Stubbs, Australia, 0-6, 6-1, 10-8
Belgium def. France 2-1
Els Callens, Belgium, def. Julie Halard-Decugis, France, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Kim Clijsters, Belgium, def. Nathalie Tauziat, France, 6-1, 6-4
Julie Halard-Decugis/Nathalie Tauziat, France,
def.
Els Callens/Laurence Courtois, Belgium, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Belgium def. Russia 2-1
Elena Likhovtseva, Russia def. Laurence Courtois, Belgium, 6-4, 6-4
Kim Clijsters, Belgium def. Anna Kournikova, Russia, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
Els Callens/Laurence Courtois, Belgium
def.
Elena Likhovtseva/Anna Kournikova, Russia, 6-4, 6-3
~Clijsters City
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