Fed Cup: Canada vs. Belgium

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO -- Canada will travel to Belgium for a Fed Cup World Group II playoff tie in April, the International Tennis Federation announced Tuesday.

Belgium and Canada have never met in Fed Cup play during its current head-to-head format. Choice of surface, venue and team nominations for the April 25-26 tie will be decided at a later date.

"We've had to wait almost two years to get back to this spot and we're going to work very hard to return to World Group status," said Canadian team captain Rene Collins. "We are looking forward to playing Belgium in April. Our team will be as prepared as possible in order to give ourselves the best chance to win."

Canada locked up a spot in the World Group II playoff by sweeping Paraguay last Saturday in Montreal.

That team consisted of Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Que., Toronto's Sharon Fichman, Valerie Tetreault of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que.

The squad from Belgium lost 4-1 to Slovakia in its World Group II tie this past weekend, setting up the match against Canada.

.The Canadians, who reached World Group II status in 2007, are currently ranked 17th in the world, while the Belgians finished second in the 2006 tournament and now sit at No. 8 on the ITF list.

Canada and Belgium have met twice in Fed Cup in the old tournament format. Belgium won 3-0 in 1981 when the competition was held in Japan and defeated Canada 2-1 in 1969 when the tournament was hosted by Greece.

The four winning nations will qualify for World Group II in 2010, while the four losers will start in Zonal Group I in 2010.

.In the other best-of-five World Group II matchups, Israel takes on Estonia, Japan meets Poland and Australia faces Switzerland.

In the playoffs to determine which teams will participate in the elite eight-nation World Group I next year, Spain will host the Serbs, which used Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic to beat Japan in World Group II. France hosts Slovakia, China hosts Germany and Argentina hosts Ukraine.

The United States, which has won 17 Fed Cup titles, visits the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup semifinals while defending champion Russia takes on Italy

Robredo moves on at Brazil Open

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil -- Second-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain made short work of his first Brazil Open match in seven years, beating local wild card Thiago Alves 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday.

Robredo broke Alves three times and didn't face a break point.

Third-seeded Albert Montanes was not as fortunate, losing an all-Spanish first-rounder against Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-2. Ferrero, the world's top-ranked player in September 2003 and the runner-up in Brazil in 2007, broke Montanes seven times, including twice in the decisive set.

Montanes, who hit in less than half of his first serves, dropped to 0-4 against Ferrero.

In other results, Vina del Mar semifinalist Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay passed Oscar Hernandez of Spain 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, Argentina's Brian Dabul advanced when Chile's Paul Capdeville retired with an abdominal strain after losing the first set, and Portuguese pair Frederico Gil and Rui Machado won their openers.

Davydenko advances at ABN Amro

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- Nikolay Davydenko advanced to the second round at the ABN Amro on Monday by beating fellow Russian Igor Andreev 6-3, 6-2.

The third-seeded Davydenko, who missed the Australian Open with a foot injury, needed just over an hour to dispatch Andreev.

Two other Russians, Dmitry Tursunov and Mikhail Youzhny, also advanced by beating two Frenchmen. Tursunov beat Arnaud Clement 6-0, 6-3 while Youzhny overcame Laurent Recouderc 6-4, 6-4.

"The first round is always difficult," the 26-year-old Tursunov said. "You always have to find your rhythm and get accustomed to a new surface."

Julien Benneteau of France also advanced, defeating Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at the Ahoy stadium.

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain was set to play his first singles match since winning the Australian Open on Wednesday against Simone Bolelli of Italy, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain will play Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia on Tuesday.

Three nations reach Fed Cup semis

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON -- Defending champion Russia, Italy and the Czech Republic advanced to the semifinals of the Fed Cup on Sunday, all completing their wins in reverse singles. Russia, which has won four of the last five Fed Cup titles, routed China 5-0 with Anna Chakvetadze and Alisa Kleybanova both winning before the doubles team of Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova finished it off on indoor hard courts in Moscow. Italy eliminated France, taking an unbeatable lead when Flavia Pennetta defeated a crying Alize Cornet, and the Czechs knocked out 2008 runner-up Spain 4-1. Later Sunday, the United States was to play Argentina in Surprise, Ariz., with the score in the best-of-five series even at 1-1. Chakvetadze played the first reverse singles match in place of Dementieva and improved her Fed Cup record to 7-2 by beating Yan Zi of China 6-1, 6-2. "I was a bit nervous because it was very important for me today to win, to support my teammates' success on Saturday," Chakvetadze said. "And I also had problems with my serve." Kleybanova, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, defeated Sun Tiantian 6-1, 6-1, and Dementieva and Kuznetsova teamed to beat Yan and Sun 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. In the semifinals, set for April 25-26, the Russians will face Italy. Cornet, a 19-year-old Frenchwoman who is ranked No. 14 by the WTA Tour, broke down crying in the second set of her loss to Pennetta when a ball that landed beyond the baseline was not called out. Pennetta won 6-2, 6-2. In the second reverse singles match on indoor hard courts in Orleans, France, Sara Errani defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo 6-3, 6-4. The Czechs won all three matches Sunday on indoor carpet in Brno, with Lucie Safarova beating Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 6-3, Petra Kvitova defeating Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4, 7-5, and Iveta Benesova and Kveta Peschke teaming to beat Lourdes Dominguez-Lino and Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-4, 6-2.

Fed Cup: Canada drubs Puerto Rico

By Bill Beacon THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL -- It has been almost too easy for Canada in their Fed Cup Americas Zone I event at Uniprix Stadium. For a second night in a row, Stephanie Dubois and Aleksandra Wozniak steamrolled their opponents in singles to clinch their best-of-three tie with Puerto Rico and reach the final of the six-country competition. Dubois, of Laval, Que., beat Monica Puig 6-2, 6-1 while Wozniak, of Blainville, Que., by far the top-ranked player in the field at No. 32 in the world, won 6-3, 6-1 over Jessica Roland Rosario. That gave Canada an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the best-of-three tie, and Dubois and Sharon Fichman of Toronto completed the sweep with a 6-0, 6-0 doubles win over Puig and Roland Rosario. In the final on Saturday afternoon, Canada will meet Paraguay, a surprise winner over Colombia. The winner advances to the playoffs for World Group II, which includes the ninth-to-16th-ranked countries in the world. If they stick in Group II, they will have a shot at advancing to World Group I next year. Paraguay drew first blood as 17-year-old Veronica Cepede Royg, the world's 16th ranked junior, upset Catalina Castano 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 on the quick hardcourt surface. Then 33-year-old Rossana de los Rios edged Mariana Duque Marino 7-6 (4), 7-5. The Canadian side scored a 3-0 romp over the Bahamas in their opening match on Thursday night. Dubois didn't lose a game against her Bahamian opponent on Thursday, but was up against a somewhat stronger foe in Puig, a 15-year-old junior who managed to hold service to 2-2 before Dubois took over with superior pace. "She's a junior, but she hits well," said Dubois, ranked 118th in the world. "I think I was even more aggressive this time and I served better and was taking balls earlier, so that's encouraging for the final." Wozniak, who lost only two games against the Bahamas, was hammering her serve and groundstrokes against the 26-year-old Roland Rosario and looked to be rounding into form after a recent hamstring injury. "I feel I played even better, tactically," she said. "I need more matches to get back my rhythm, so I thought it was a good match. I'm ready." Canada knew it had the easier of the two three-team round robin groups, but it remains to be seen if their one-sided wins won't work against them in the final against the winner of the more difficult group, whose matches were longer and more closely contested. "These matches were a bit challenging for us because we thought we would win and we've been trying not to think ahead to Saturday, so I'm just glad to have them done and we can start concentrating on the final," said Canadian team captain Rene Collins. "The positive thing is we're well rested. We had a great training camp coming into it. I just look at it that these were a couple of practice matches. I think the girls did well. I think we'll be ready." De los Rios, ranked 95th in the world, called her win over Duque Marino "lucky, because it was so tight. "In the first match, Veronica is a junior and she played really well -- that was a big win." De Los Rios said she's comfortable on hardcourts, but grants that Canada will be the favourite on its home court. The main court only seats 700, but it was full of home country supporters. "I know everyone on their team from the tour, but we'll do our best and just keep thinking about our goal," she said.

Fed Cup: Canada downs Bahamas

THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- Stephanie Dubois and Aleksandra Wozniak breezed through their opening matches to lift Canada over the Bahamas in BNP Paribas Fed Cup women's tennis play on Thursday night at Uniprix Stadium.

Dubois, of Laval, Que., lost only five points in the second set of a quick, 45-minute 6-0, 6-0 victory over 16-year-old Kerrie Cartwright in the first singles match.

Blainville, Que., native Wozniak, Canada's top-ranked player at 32nd in the world, was marginally more challenged in a 6-0, 6-2 victory over harder-serving Nikkita Fountain.

And the doubles team of Dubois and Sharon Fichman of Toronto made it a sweep of the best-of-three tie with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Cartwright and Fountain.

Fountain, who is not part of any regular tour, broke Wozniak's service to open the second set and then held service for 2-2, but the Canadian recovered and closed out the match with pace.

"She started being more aggressive, and I'm playing indoors here after the Australian Open, so it's a new surface, but I think I picked it up," said Wozniak, who has been nursing a hamstring injury. "I just needed to give it all I can on court. I need more matches under my belt to get my rhythm back."

Canada is 1-0 in round robin play in its three-team group and needs a win over Puerto Rico on Friday night to book a spot in the final of the Fed Cup Americas Zone I event on Saturday afternoon.

The Bahamas, beaten by Puerto Rico on Wednesday night, dropped to 0-2 and next will face the third-place team from the second group. The loser will drop to Americas Zone II for next year's Fed Cup.

Fountain was happy to give Wozniak close games.

"I just cracked a joke with my coach that I'm ready to quit my job and go on tour -- I was only one point away each game or it could have been a different match," said the former Florida International University player. "But I had fun because I don't play any more, I just teach tennis."

In the other group, Colombia defeated Brazil 2-1 with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 doubles victory. In singles play, Catalina Castano downed Maria Fernanda Alves 6-3, 6-4, but Brazil tied it when Vivian Segnini upset Mariana Duque Marino 6-2, 6-3.

The small grandstand holds only 700 and it was full for Canada's easy win.

Dubois showed no mercy to her young opponent.

"I didn't know her, but some girls are coming on -- they're playing tournaments and they may move up the rankings," said Dubois, ranked 118th in the world. "Every opponent is tough, so you need to focus on your own game and do your stuff."

Team captain Rene Collins called it a good first day of competition.

"I know it's a fairly weak team we played, but these matches are still difficult to play in front of your fans because they really want to do well and they put pressure on themselves," she said. "So I was really happy with the way it went."

Puerto Rico should be another clear victory. Like the Bahamas, it has no players ranked by the WTA.

"I expect them to be a little bit better, but not exceptionally so," said Collins. "It's a matter of getting through the nerves and expectations of playing at home. Every match is a challenge."

The winner of the event advances to the playoffs in April for World Group II, which has the ninth to the 16th top teams in the world. A country must get there to have a chance to break into World Group I, which has the top eight teams.

Canada is currently ranked 21st.

Rising Wozniak leads Team Canada

THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL -- Overconfidence could be Canada's main enemy in Fed Cup women's tennis play this week at Uniprix Stadium. The four-member Canadian team is playing at home, on its favourite surface -- hardcourts -- and has by far the top-ranked player in the six-country event in 32nd-ranked Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que. "It's probably putting pressure on them, but they're the favourites to finish first," Tennis Canada vice-president Eugene Lapierre said Tuesday. "At least on paper, no one comes close. "And with the draw, we're not in a strong group. There shouldn't be a scare until the final." The draw for the BNP Paribas Americas Zone Group I event put Canada at the head of a three-team group with Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, neither of which has a singles player ranked by the WTA. The second group has Colombia seeded first with Brazil and Paraguay. Venezuela withdrew for unknown reasons and risks automatic relegation to a lower level next year. Fed Cup events are being held around the world this week, including four meetings at the highest level, World Group I, with Russia-China, France-Italy, U.S.-Argentina and Czech Republic-Spain. Canada and Colombia have byes through the first day of play on Wednesday night and have their first matches on Thursday night. The first-place team from each group meets in the final on Saturday afternoon, with the winner advancing to the playoffs in April for World Group II (teams ranked 9-16 in the world). Should Canada win this week, it would have to win in the playoffs just to advance to World Group II for 2010. There, it would need to win again to get into World Group I, where its best results ever were reaching the quarter-finals in 1964, 1967, 1987 and 1988. Canada sends out Wozniak, who downed Serena Williams to win a Tier-2 tournament at Stanford in 2008, as well as 118th ranked Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Que., 232nd ranked Sharon Fichman of Toronto and 370th ranked Valerie Tetreault of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que. All four train regularly on the indoor courts that will be used for the Fed Cup. "Alex this year kind of made a breakthrough," said team captain Rene Collins, who was known as Rene Simpson in her playing days. "She's by far the highest ranked player at this event and it certainly gives us some confidence the other teams don't have." The next-highest ranked is Rossana de los Rios of Paraguay at No. 95, while Colombia has Marianna Duque Marino at 104th and Catalina Castano at 167th. The Colombians won the event at home last February on clay courts, including a win over Canada. "We want to get back to the World Group," said Wozniak. "We lost to Colombia in February, but if we face them again on Saturday, we want to get our little revenge. "But we have to stay focused because the other teams are here to win. Whoever we face, we have to be ready." Wozniak is just back from the Australian Open in Melbourne, where she was beaten in the first round by Sabine Lisicki after losing practice time while treating a left hamstring injury. But she made it to the quarter-finals in mixed doubles with Daniel Nestor of Toronto, losing to eventual champions Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi of India. "We played really good together and I hope to play with him in future," added Wozniak. "We beat his ex-partner Mark Knowles (and Zi Yan), and they were second seeds." Wozniak's big year, which included reaching the third round of the French Open, has put her in heady company on tour and she hopes to keep moving up the rankings. "Now I'm in the highest level, competing against the top players in the tournament, so I need to really keep free from injuries and try to get into the top 20, and improve my doubles," she said. "It's not easy to start the year with an injury, but I feel good now." The centre court only holds 700 spectators, which is not unusual for Fed Cup group play, or even for less important men's Davis Cup ties. But it should be filled with a decidedly pro-Canada crowd. "We're lucky to play here in Montreal," said Dubois. "We have a great team and it's nice to play in front of family and friends." For their Latin American visitors, landing in snow covered Montreal was an experience in itself. "It's nice for us," said Castano. "It's the first time we see a lot of snow. "We don't have seasons in Colombia, so it's interesting for us. We play indoors on tour, but we never had snow." Each meeting has two three-set singles matches and a three-set doubles match. Collins said it has not yet been decided which players will play on Thursday.