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4/27/2002
Australia Crash to Belgium
- BBC Sports
Australia's hopes of causing a major Fed Cup upset were dashed when holders Belgium eased into a 2-0 lead.
Justine Henin, last year's Wimbledon runner-up, defeated Nicole Pratt, Australia's top player, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 before Kim Clijsters
easily demolished Alicia Molik 6-0, 6-2 on the clay courts of the
Royal Leopold Club in Uccle.
The two victories mean that Belgium just need to win one more
rubber on Sunday to book their semi-final place against either Italy
or Sweden.
It was a battling performance by the Belgian players - Clijsters, the world number three, had been out of action for a month with a damaged shoulder, while world number eight Henin had to withdraw from the Charleston event last week with an abductor strain.
Having lost the first set on Saturday, Pratt fought back to level the match before Henin reimposed
herself to take the match.
"I am disappointed because in the second set I played some very
good tennis," said Pratt.
"I really thought I could cause her some problems in the third
set."
Sanchez-Vicario record
The second match was more straightforward for Clijsters against
the 48th ranked Molik and she will be the favourite to wrap up the match on Sunday when she faces Pratt in the reverse singles.
In other Fed Cup action, Spain were level at 1-1 with Hungary in their first round tie after Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario sealed a straight-sets victory over Rita Kuti Kis in the second singles match.
The win enabled the 30-year-old Spaniard to set two new records for victories in the competition.
Sanchez-Vicario has now totalled 67 wins in singles and doubles matches, beating the old record she held jointly with Britain's Virginia Wade.
She also set a new mark of 46 wins in singles matches, taking her one ahead of the Czech Republic's Helena Sukova in the all-time list.
Hungary had earlier taken the lead when Zsofia Gubacsi
produced a determined display to beat Angeles Montolio 6-3 3-6
6-2.
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Australia Crash to Belgium- BBC SportsAustralia's hopes of causing a major Fed Cup upset were dashed when holders Belgium eased into a 2-0 lead. Justine Henin, last year's Wimbledon runner-up, defeated Nicole Pratt, Australia's top player, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 before Kim Clijsters easily demolished Alicia Molik 6-0, 6-2 on the clay courts of the Royal Leopold Club in Uccle. The two victories mean that Belgium just need to win one more rubber on Sunday to book their semi-final place against either Italy or Sweden. It was a battling performance by the Belgian players - Clijsters, the world number three, had been out of action for a month with a damaged shoulder, while world number eight Henin had to withdraw from the Charleston event last week with an abductor strain. Having lost the first set on Saturday, Pratt fought back to level the match before Henin reimposed herself to take the match. "I am disappointed because in the second set I played some very good tennis," said Pratt. "I really thought I could cause her some problems in the third set." Sanchez-Vicario record The second match was more straightforward for Clijsters against the 48th ranked Molik and she will be the favourite to wrap up the match on Sunday when she faces Pratt in the reverse singles. In other Fed Cup action, Spain were level at 1-1 with Hungary in their first round tie after Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario sealed a straight-sets victory over Rita Kuti Kis in the second singles match. The win enabled the 30-year-old Spaniard to set two new records for victories in the competition. Sanchez-Vicario has now totalled 67 wins in singles and doubles matches, beating the old record she held jointly with Britain's Virginia Wade. She also set a new mark of 46 wins in singles matches, taking her one ahead of the Czech Republic's Helena Sukova in the all-time list. Hungary had earlier taken the lead when Zsofia Gubacsi produced a determined display to beat Angeles Montolio 6-3 3-6 6-2.
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