U.S. Leads Belgium 2-0, Russia-France at 1-1 in Fed Cup Semis



Posted on November 21, 2003

Meghann Shaughnessy struggled mightily against 17-year-old world junior No. 1 Kirsten Flipkens Wednesday in her first match of the Fed Cup semis, but eventually subdued the Belgian upstart 6-7(4), 7-6(8), 9-7 to give the U.S. a commanding 2-0 lead. The win followed a successful opening for the U.S. when Lisa Raymond easily saw off Els Callens 6-2, 6-1 in 50 minutes.
Meghann Shaughnessy didn't choke.
"I don't think I could have asked more of myself or I could have played any better," Raymond said. "It's been a great week so far and I think we came here to win this cup."

Flipkens was competing with a hip injury in her first Fed Cup match, but playing without fear in winning the first set and dictating points before the wiry Shaughnessy edged the second set in a breaker and the third 9-7. The Belgian served for the match at 5-4 in the third but could not close the door.

Today the U.S. will have three chances to gain the clinching point, beginning with Raymond vs. Flipkens, then Shaughnessy vs. Callens, then the doubles with Navratilova/Raymond vs. E.Clijsters/Maes.

In the other semifinal, Russia and France were even 1-1 after the first day, with Amelie Mauresmo rolling over 19-year-old Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-2, and Anastasia Myskina scoring one for the home team with a dramatic 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 win over Mary Pierce.

"This is definitely one of the most satisfying victories of my career," said Myskina, who was congratulated after the match by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin. "I played good. Mary played very well in the first set and I?m really happy that I brought the point for my team. The crowd was awesome. I think that was really a key point for today...they helped me a lot and I really appreciate that they came today."

Today's first match will set the tone in the Russia-France semifinal, with an all-Top 10 encounter in Myskina vs. Mauresmo. That will be followed by Zvonareva vs. Pierce, and the doubles in Dementieva/Petrova for Russia against Loit/Pierce.

FED CUP ALL-TIME TOP 5 SINGLES MATCH WINNERS
1. SANCHEZ-VICARIO, Arantxa (ESP) 50-22
2. SUKOVA, Helena (CZE) 45-11
3. MARTINEZ, Conchita (ESP) 44-18
4. EVERT, Chris (USA) 40-2
5. WADE, Virginia (GBR) 36-20

Honorable Mention:
NAVRATILOVA, Martina (USA) 20-0

FED CUP ALL-TIME TOP 5 DOUBLES INDIVIDUAL MATCH WINNERS
1. NEILAND, Larisa (LAT) 36-7
2. WADE, Virginia (GBR) 30-13
3. BASUKI, Yayuk (INA) 29-7
4. TURNBULL, Wendy (AUS) 29-8
5T. KING, Billie Jean (USA) 26-1
5T. CASAL, Rosie (USA) 26-1

Honorable Mention:
NAVRATILOVA, Martina (USA) 17-0

FED CUP ALL-TIME TOP 5 DOUBLES TEAM MATCH WINNERS
1. MARTINEZ, Conchita / SANCHEZ-VICARIO, Arantxa (ESP) 18-3
2. ANGGARKUSUMA, Suzanna / BASUKI, Yayuk (INA) 15-3
3. CABEZAS, Paula / CASTRO, Barbara (CHI) 15-5
4. BARKER, Sue / WADE, Virginia (GBR) 13-3
5. NEILAND, Larisa / ZVEREVA, Natalia (RUS) 12-1

NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS
Hey Steve Gutterman, AP writer, its Kirsten Flipkens, not "Fipkens"...The Davis Cup has started up its broadband service at www.daviscup.tv, though it appears for the time being the service will not show live matches, only selected footage -- which is weak...Hey ITF, why are the doubles played as the middle match in Davis Cup, but as the fifth match in Fed Cup? Get your shiznat together, the doubles as the fifth (and usually inconsequential) match is weak...Chanda Rubin will have her day in Lafayette on Sunday at a banquet in her honor thrown by the Holy Rosary Alumni Association and Friends will honor Rubin Sunday at Hotel Acadiana. "It's a celebration time to recognize her for her accomplishments," said Jerri Caillier, association president. "She's such a good role model, and today, our children need to know that if you work hard at something and have the discipline, you might be able to succeed." Also in attendance will be Oprah Winfrey's father, Vernon Winfrey and her stepmother, Barbara Harris Winfrey....The Superset Tennis exhibition to be broadcast on CBS in the U.S. on Thanksgiving day (taped) will include Andre Agassi, Max "The Beast" Mirnyi, Robby Ginepri, Taylor Dent, James Blake, Jan-Michael Gambill, Todd Martin, and one more player to be named. Anna Kournikova and Amanda Coetzer will also play an all-hottie exhibition, which some fans might consider the main event. First-round matches are set for noon, the semifinals begin at 7 p.m., followed by the final, with each match comprised of one set only. Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis withdrew from the event due to Davis Cup..Russian Maria "Grunt-o-riffic" Sharapova has signed a deal with IMG's modeling agency.