Fed Cup Preview: Belgium at U.S.

"The changes that the ITF has made to Fed Cup come in response to the views of the players and our member National Associations," said ITF President Francesco Ricci "Itti" Bitti. "We believe that the new format can only enhance the competition and bring it closer to the very successful Davis Cup model. Fed Cup is, if not the most important, surely one of the most important team competitions for women in sport and the ITF is convinced that these changes will allow Fed Cup to maintain this position for the future."

Tennis-X will preview one of the World Group I ties each day leading to the Saturday start of the first round of the 2005 Fed Cup:

Belgium at U.S.
Site: Delray Beach Tennis Center, FL, USA
Surface: Hard outdoors
Ball: Wilson US Open Regular Duty High Visibility Felt

Former No. 1s Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters are content to play week-in and week-out in their comeback efforts in early 2005, but when it comes to Fed Cup they repeat the tired mantra of not wanting to overplay. C'mon, for once just cut the crap and tell it like it is -- playing for Belgium is not important to you, or they don't offer you enough money, or you can't stand being in close proximity of each other for a weekend, etc. Come clean.

"Fed Cup just didn't fit in my schedule this year," Clijsters said.

In the meantime, what could have become a highlight of the year will instead become a lowlight as the "B"-squad of Belgians Kirsten Flipkens and Els Callens line up to take a beating against the powerhouse U.S. squad of world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and the former No. 1 Williams sisters, Serena and Venus.

Enough said? The U.S. will face the winner of Russia-Italy in the second round.