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11/7/2001
Clijsters, Henin Lead Belgium at Fed Cup
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Belgium made a strong start in
its bid for its first Fed Cup title, with Justine Henin and
Kim Clijsters winning in straight sets Wednesday against
Germany.
Henin defeated Martina Muller 6-3, 6-1 and Clijsters
downed Bianka Lamade by the same score on the indoor
clay courts.
The two victories guarantee Belgium of winning its first
series in the round-robin tournament. Belgium plays
Australia on Friday and Spain on Saturday.
The Fed Cup is divided into two four-team groups in
which the two leaders play in Sunday's final. Belgium,
Germany, Spain and Australia are in one group, with
France, Russia, Argentina and the Czech Republic in the
other.
Germany replaced the two-time defending champion
Americans, who withdrew because of security concerns
after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Later Wednesday, Russia faced the Czech Republic and
Spain played Australia.
Henin, the WTA's No. 7 player and the losing finalist this
year at Wimbledon, had no trouble with Muller -- ranked
100 places below her. She won the first set in 46 minutes
and swept through the second in 27.
Clijsters, ranked No. 5, surged through her first set in 29
minutes and took the second in 22.
Belgium's Els Callens and Laurence Courtois played
Lamade and Barbara Rittner in doubles.
"It's nice to win in two easy sets," Henin said. "It's good
for confidence and physically it's good. It's a lot different
to play on clay. At the beginning it was difficult, but that's
normal after six months on hard courts."
Belgium is the only country in the eight-team event with
two players in the top 10. France is the only other team
with a top 10 player in No. 9 Amelie Mauresmo.
Henin this season reached the Wimbledon final before
losing to Venus Williams. She also lost to Clijsters in the
French Open semifinals.
Clijsters fell in the French Open final to Jennifer
Capriati, becoming the first Belgian woman to play for
that title. She made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon
and the U.S. Open.
"It's nice to play together for the last week of the year,"
Henin said. "We'll enjoy this moment. We are alone all
year on the tour, so it's nice to be a team one week in the
year."
Belgium's main problem may be five-time champion
Spain, where Conchita Martinez and Arantxa
Sanchez-Vicario are always dangerous on clay.
"To play the Spanish in Spain is for sure difficult,"
Henin said. "They will have the crowd behind them. For
sure we will have to be focused because they can also
make the finals."
The Americans could face expulsion from next year's
event and a fine when the International Tennis Federation
board meets Nov. 24-25 in Ireland.
However, Fed Cup executive director Debbie Jevans
said it seemed more likely a lesser penalty -- or no
penalty -- would be imposed.
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Clijsters, Henin Lead Belgium at Fed CupHenin defeated Martina Muller 6-3, 6-1 and Clijsters downed Bianka Lamade by the same score on the indoor clay courts. The two victories guarantee Belgium of winning its first series in the round-robin tournament. Belgium plays Australia on Friday and Spain on Saturday. The Fed Cup is divided into two four-team groups in which the two leaders play in Sunday's final. Belgium, Germany, Spain and Australia are in one group, with France, Russia, Argentina and the Czech Republic in the other. Germany replaced the two-time defending champion Americans, who withdrew because of security concerns after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Later Wednesday, Russia faced the Czech Republic and Spain played Australia. Henin, the WTA's No. 7 player and the losing finalist this year at Wimbledon, had no trouble with Muller -- ranked 100 places below her. She won the first set in 46 minutes and swept through the second in 27. Clijsters, ranked No. 5, surged through her first set in 29 minutes and took the second in 22. Belgium's Els Callens and Laurence Courtois played Lamade and Barbara Rittner in doubles. "It's nice to win in two easy sets," Henin said. "It's good for confidence and physically it's good. It's a lot different to play on clay. At the beginning it was difficult, but that's normal after six months on hard courts." Belgium is the only country in the eight-team event with two players in the top 10. France is the only other team with a top 10 player in No. 9 Amelie Mauresmo. Henin this season reached the Wimbledon final before losing to Venus Williams. She also lost to Clijsters in the French Open semifinals. Clijsters fell in the French Open final to Jennifer Capriati, becoming the first Belgian woman to play for that title. She made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. "It's nice to play together for the last week of the year," Henin said. "We'll enjoy this moment. We are alone all year on the tour, so it's nice to be a team one week in the year." Belgium's main problem may be five-time champion Spain, where Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario are always dangerous on clay. "To play the Spanish in Spain is for sure difficult," Henin said. "They will have the crowd behind them. For sure we will have to be focused because they can also make the finals." The Americans could face expulsion from next year's event and a fine when the International Tennis Federation board meets Nov. 24-25 in Ireland. However, Fed Cup executive director Debbie Jevans said it seemed more likely a lesser penalty -- or no penalty -- would be imposed.
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