Kuznetsova Wins with Tank Approaching Empty at WTA Beijing

Other winners into the quarterfinals on Thursday were Russians (4) Vera Zvonareva (d. (Q) Gagliardi), (5) Nadia Petrova (d. (Q) Mamic), and Serb (7) Jelena Jankovic (d. (Q) Douchevina).

The Friday quarterfinals line up as Jankovic vs. Sharapova, Dulko vs. Kuznetsova, Serena vs. Petrova, and Vera "Warren" Zvonareva vs. Anabel "Funky Cold" Medina Garrigues.

Davis Cup Qualifying Previews: Canada at Romania, Thailand at Russia

Tennis-X will take a look at two Davis Cup qualifying matches per day leading to the beginning of play on Friday, Sept. 24. Four countries will advance to the World Group, while the four losers will wallow for at least another year in the minor leagues of Davis Cup zonal play.

The eight qualifying matches this weekend are Morocco at Australia, Japan at Chile, Belgium at Croatia, Czech Republic at Paraguay, Germany at Slovak Republic, Great Britain at Austria, Canada at Romania, and Thailand at Russia.

Today's previews: Canada at Romania, Thailand at Russia

Canada at Romania
Site: Clubul Sportiv Progresul Bucuresti, Bucharest, ROM
Surface: Red Clay (outdoors)
Ball: Dunlop Fort All Court

While neither nation will make a dent once in the World Group, the battle between the clay-challenged Canucks and the homecourt Romanians hinges on Andrei Pavel's back injury, and the ability of the young Canadians to step up on the red dirt.

Canadian 19-year-old Frank Dancevic, a player with Top 50 potential, has had back problems of his own of late but says he will be fit.

"After the (Masters Series-Canada) I took a couple weeks off, cleared up the back," Dancevic said. "I played a couple challengers right after and it's feeling pretty good right now."

The Romanian Pavel's injury forced him to pull out of the US Open, but he has been undergoing therapy in Romania and says he will also be fit. Pavel maintains a Top 20 ranking, while No. 2 Victor Hanescu is ranked No. 90.

Pavel has never before faced Dancevic or Larose, who spend much of their time slumming on the challenger and futures tours.

Daniel Nestor and Frederik Niemeyer, who are 4-0 career together in D-Cup play, will represent Canada in doubles against the underwhelming Romanian team of Victor Ionita and Florin Mergea.

In typical Euro-fashion the Romanians have turned the red clay courts into a sand pit, much to the dismay of the Canadians.

"They've done everything they could to slow it down," said Canuck captain Martin Laurendeau. "The court is actually very soft and slow and they've supplied us with balls that are just about the slowest and heaviest out there."

In other words, game, set, match Romania.

Thailand at Russia
Site: Sports Palace "Luzhniki," Moscow, RUS
Surface: Red Clay (indoors)
Ball: Roland Garros French Open

This match was over when it was determined that Russia would receive home court advantage, with Thai No. 1 Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan horrible on clay.

Srichaphan will get little help from Thai No. 2 Danai Udomchoke, against the muscular Russian squad of former No. 1 Marat Safin and youngster Igor Andreev, who at the French Open this year beat defending champ Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Back to the minor leagues for the Thais, with The Thai Fighter hoping someone will come up from the junior depths soon to give him a little help in international team play.

TENNIS DISCUSSIONS
See what all the chatter is about, the talk, the walk, don't balk on the latest issues in pro tennis at http://www.tennis-x.com/discussions.php

FREE DAILY TENNIS-X NEWSLETTER
Our free gift to you. Make it a gift to yourself. Go to www.Tennis-X.com. Sign up today and we'll attach the Anna Kournikova virus, free of charge.

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Gustavo Kuerten won't play again until at least January or February of 2004 after successfully undergoing hip surgery in Pittsburgh. Guga will remain in the U.S. for three weeks before returning to Brazil for rehab. This is his second hip surgery after January 2003. "The surgery was a success, because we were able to eliminate all the injuries that caused him pain and trouble moving," said doctor Marc Philippon...Greg Rusedski will take to the court today in Davis Cup play for Britain against Austria over fellow Brit and US Open junior champ Andy Murray, but as of this morning rain has stopped play in Austria...Lleyton Hewitt won his first Davis Cup match over Morocco this morning, beating hapless Moroccan substitute Medhi Tahiri, in the process becoming the winningest player in Australian Davis Cup history with 25 singles wins, surpassing Adrian Quist who played between between 1933-39 and 1946-48. Australia leads the tie over Morocco 2-0...In a shocker, France has gone with Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro in singles on the dirt in their Davis Cup semifinal against Spain, putting Arnaud Clement on the sidelines: "I've never beaten (Juan Carlos) Ferrero, except in one match when he had to retire because of injury, but I don't think there's any player in the world who could predict with certainty that he's going to win against him," Santoro said after Thursday's draw. "I'll give it my best shot. The captain has picked the players on the basis of who can cause the most problems for the Spanish side." Ferrero says his disappointing year will be put to the side for the semifinal weekend: "My form is ideal now. I've been training hard and I'm fully fit. I missed some of my goals this year but the Davis Cup is my main objective now."...The Slovak Republic has taken an early 1-0 lead over Germany (The Dominator d. Mayer), and Romania has taken a 1-0 lead over Canada (Pavel d. Larose), along with Russia 1-0 over Thailand (Andreev. d. Srichaphan) this morning, all in World Group qualifying play-offs.