2007 World Group Draws

[Brinyi]

Home team listed first

2007 World Group

USA - Belgium
Russia - Spain
France - Japan
Italy - China

2007 World Group II

Slovak Republic - Czech Republic
Germany - Croatia
Canada - Israel
Austria - Australia

[DBBN]

brinyi said:

Slovak Republic - Czech Republic

Austria - Australia

Confusing!

[PierceCheng]

FRANCE

• Starters: Nathalie Dechy, Tatiana Golovin, Marion Bartoli, Emilie Loit
  
• Substitutes: Mary Pierce, Virginie Razzano, Caroline Dhenin, Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, Stephanie Foretz, Camille Pin, Severine Beltrame-Bremond
  
• Suspension: Amelie Mauresmo (1 year, because she didn't leave the team for her fault in final at two years ago, although she hasn't play the match in this year of play-off match to perform the period of suspension for injury, but this behaviour is irresponsible)
  

RUSSIA

• Starters: Elena Dementieva, Dinara Safina, Anna Chakvetadze, Svetlana Kuznetsova
  
• Substitutes: Maria Kirilenko, Elena Likhovtseva, Vera Dushevina, Vera Zvonareva, Anastasia Myskina (absent), Anna Kournikova (absent), Elena Vesnina, Elena Bovina, Ekaterina Bychkova, Anastassia Rodinova, Lina Krasnoroutskaya, Evgenia Linetskaya, Evegenia Kulikovskaya, Maria Sharapova (absent)
  
• Suspension: Nadia Petrova (1 year, because she withdraw the fourth rubber single match for no reason, as a result Russia lost to Belgium 1-3 in first round)
  

CZECH REPUBLIC

• Starters: Nicole Vaidisova, Lucie Safarova, Klara Koukalova-Zakopalova, Eva Birnerova
  Substitutes: Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova, Zuzana Omdraskova, Katerina Bohmova, Hana Sromova, Michela Pastikova, Sandra Kleinova, Libuse Prusova, Denisa Chladkova
  
• Suspension: Iveta Benesova & Kveta Hrdlickova-Peschke (1 year, because they lost the last one deciding doubles match in this year of play-off)
  

CROATIA

• Starters: Ivana Lisjak, Sanja Ancic, Jelena Kostanic, Matea Mezak
  
• Substitutes: Silvija Talaja, Sanda Mamic, Ivana Abramovic
  
• Suspension: Karolina Sprem (1 year, because she lost the most impoartant single match in third rubber, as a result Croatia lost to Russia 0-3)
  

USA

• Starters: Lindsay Davenport, Corina Morariu, Serena Williams, Venus Williams
  
• Substitutes: Chanda Rubin, Ashley Harkleroad, Lisa Raymond, Laura Granville, Angela Haynes, Samantha Reeves, Bethanie Mattek, Jessica Kirkland, Abigail Spears, Ansley Cargill, Carly Gullickson, Meghann Shaughnessy, Shenay Perry, Mashona Washington, Jamea Jackson, Vania King
  
• Suspension: Jill Craybas (two years, because she didn't leave the team for her fault in semi final at last year, also she played in this year; as a result USA lost in semi final again)
  

BELGIUM

• Starters: Kim Clijsters, Caroline Maes, Leslie Butkiewicz, Debbrich Feys
  
• Substitutes: Kirsten Flipkens, Davinia Lobbinger, Yanina Wickmayer
  
• Suspension: Justine Henin-Hardenne (1 year, because she withdraw the last one deciding doubles match for injury when Belgium tired 2-2 with Italy, but she didn't tell her team leader first when she won the third single match. Remarks: she will stay the team in next year, but her name will not show on the tie list in all matches.)
  

What do you think?

My announcement: I respect the lost for every player, but this is the one of disciplinary in every team.

[shenaynay]

You never fail to make me laugh, Cheng Chung Wing (Location is of Hong Kong).

[PierceCheng]

shenaynay said:

You never fail to make me laugh, Cheng Chung Wing (Location is of Hong Kong).

Leena, please don't make a foolish mistake again. I know you are the one of hacked my account in WTAworld.com at three years ago.

[shenaynay]

You're so flea, Cheng. Don't you think.

[Maeby Fünke]

I hope for the players I held in the best way, in spite of which they play for the games.

[Brinyi]

MOSCOW (AP) -Maria Sharapova will play for Russia against Spain in the first round of next year's Fed Cup, the first time she has played for her nation in the top team event of women's tennis.

Sharapova, who won the U.S. Open last month and Wimbledon in 2004, said on her Web site Tuesday she will be available for the matchup in Moscow on April 21-22.

[Brinyi]

Dementieva welcomed the announcement that U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova wanted to join Russia's Fed Cup campaign next season.
Russia have been drawn at home against Spain in the first round in April.
"If she (Sharapova) plays it's going to be very helpful for the team," said Dementieva. "She's a very strong player and we have a lot of chances to win if she's playing."
Anastasia Myskina once said she would refuse to play if Sharapova's father Yuri was present.
But Dementieva dismissed the idea of unrest in the Russian camp.
"I don't see any problems with her father," said Dementieva.
"He's an emotional guy but it is nothing to do with his daughter. Maria is a nice girl and I don't see any problems."

[:rolleyes:]

i love piercecheng

[Brinyi]

Sabine Appelmans has been named Belgian Fed Cup captain.

[Brinyi]

LOS ANGELES, April 12: Serena and Venus Williams were officially confirmed on Wednesday for the United States' team in this month's first round Fed Cup tie against Belgium.

Serena, who is appearing in the competition for the first time since 2003 and who has an unblemished six-win record, will play despite pulling out of the WTA event in Charleston on Tuesday.

The Australian Open champion retired in the second round match with a right groin strain.

The sisters will be joined in the April 21-22 rubber in Delray Beach by Lisa Raymond and Vania King, US captain Zina Garrison announced.

Belgium, missing their two best players Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, can count on Caroline Maes, Yanina Wickmayer and Tamaryn Hendler.

[janie]

O Canada: Woz, MEP, Val, Not Blanche

O come O come, Israel: Pe'er, Smash(!), Tzipi, Glushko

So will the Maple Leafs rise to the occasion, as they did last year? Or will Peer & Co. squash them like bugs?

[Brinyi]

Peer & Co. will squash them like bugs.

[Brinyi]

With the North American ties still to come:

World Group

Nadia Petrova (RUS) v Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v Lourdes Dominguez-Lino (ESP)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
Nadia Petrova (RUS) v Lourdes Dominguez-Lino (ESP)
Anna Chakvetadze/Elena Vesnina (RUS) v Nuria Llagostera Vives/Laura Pous-Tio (ESP)

Nathalie Dechy (FRA) v Ai Sugiyama (JPN)
Tatiana Golovin (FRA) v Akiko Morigami (JPN)
Tatiana Golovin (FRA) v Ai Sugiyama (JPN)
Nathalie Dechy (FRA) v Akiko Morigami (JPN)
Severine Bremond/Tatiana Golovin (FRA) v Ayumi Morita/Ai Sugiyama (JPN)

Tathiana Garbin (ITA) v Tian-Tian Sun (CHN)
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) v Shuai Peng (CHN)
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) v Shuai Peng (CHN)
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) v Tian-Tian Sun (CHN)
Mara Santangelo/Roberta Vinci (ITA) v Shuai Peng/Tian-Tian Sun (CHN)

WG Group II

Tamira Paszek (AUT) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Sybille Bammer (AUT) v Alicia Molik (AUS)
Sybille Bammer (AUT) v Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Tamira Paszek (AUT) v Alicia Molik (AUS)
Yvonne Meusburger/Tamira Paszek (AUT)v Nicole Pratt/Rennae Stubbs(AUS)

Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)
Daniela Hantuchova/Janette Husarova (SVK) v Iveta Benesova/Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova (CZE)

Sandra Kloesel(GER) v Jelena Kostanic Tostitos (CRO)
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) v Ivana Lisjak (CRO)
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) v Jelena Kostanic Tostitos (CRO)
Sandra Kloesel (GER) v Ivana Lisjak (CRO)
Tatiana Malek/Andrea Petkovic(GER) v Jelena Kostanic Tostitos/Ivana Lisjak (CRO)

[Brinyi]

Fed Cup - Bartoli and Pennetta to miss Fed Cup
Eurosport - Wed, 04 Jul 15:23:00 2007
Marion Bartoli has been left out of the France squad to face Italy in the Fed Cup semi finals later this month despite her run to the Wimbledon quarter finals.

Bartoli secured her place in the last eight at the All England Club by beating world number three Jelena Jankovic but has been overlooked by captain Georges Goven in favour of Amelie Mauresmo, Tatiana Golovin, Nathalie Dechy and Severine Bremond.

Goven revealed he wanted to select French number two Bartoli but could not meet her requests for her father and coach, Walter, to accompany her.

"I wanted to call up Marion Bartoli but it was not possible because she is after playing a lot of tournaments and also because the conditions for her to play for France are not met," he said.

"Her father told me she was not ready to play for France without him being there. It's a pity."

[janie]

Grow up, Marion.

Sharapova apparently said she couldn't wait to beat the Americans on American soil -- like she's a foreigner here? What a fraud she is. Anyway, after that outburst of faux patriotism, she promptly pulled out. But I guess just putting your name on the list for a moment or two is enough to secure your Olympic spot. I hope she does get a spot on the Russian Olympic team, though -- the spot of shoe-cleaner and water-fetcher.

So who's playing for Canada?

[Brinyi]

Aleksandra WOZNIAK, Stephanie DUBOIS, Marie-Eve PELLETIER, Valerie TETREAULT.

[janie]

Wow, an all-Belle Province squad!
Which has no chance.

[Brinyi]

Maybe they do have a chance in light of this news:

Argentine preparations hit by snow

For the first time in 40 years, snow fell in Cordoba, Argentina on Monday but the groundsmen managed to clear the snow so that the teams could practice as scheduled.

Although the temperature is expected to remain low on Tuesday, the forecast for the weekend is for sunshine and temperatures of around 15 degrees celsius.

Argentina, led by Gisela Dulko is hosting Canada in a World Group II Play-off with the home nation aiming to avenge its defeat at this stage of last year's competition. In Edmonton, Canada last July, Aleksandra Wozniak and Stephanie Dubois led Canada to victory and a place in World Group II this year.

Wozniak and Dubois are joined by Marie-Eve Pelletier and Valerie Tetreault in the Canadian team with Jorgelina Cravero, Maria-Emilia Salerni amd Betina Jozami joining Dulko in the Argentine line-up.

[DBBN]

I cannot believe I will get to see LIVE FED CUP on TTC!!!!!!!!!

The only time I've seen Fed Cup period was when I was there, at the USA-Italy tie in Washington, and on Monday night when I watched a replay of Fishin' Hat-Flipper. I love The Tennis Channel!!

[Brinyi]

The word on the street is that Tarpischev is still waiting for his visa, and even if he gets it today he won't be able to join the team until just before the matches.

[Brinyi]

Russia want Fed Cup tie v U.S. moved to neutral venue

MOSCOW, July 10 (Reuters) - Russia's Fed Cup captain has asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to move this week's semi-final against the United States to a neutral country after being unable to accompany his team to a U.S. venue.

"The ITF regulations stipulate that a host country cannot deny entry to any official member of the visiting team," Shamil Tarpishchev told Reuters on Tuesday.

"But here we have a precedent where U.S. authorities are simply denying me a visa to be with my team during this very important tie."

Russia take on the United States in Vermont on July 14-15.

A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Moscow said that Tarpishchev's application was being processed by U.S. authorities in Washington.

"The Americans always like to talk about human rights and democracy but they are the first ones to deny others the same rights," Tarpishchev said.

"U.S. authorities have been targeting me for the past 10 years without any proof of any wrongdoing on my part. Just imagine what would happen if Russia had denied a visa to a U.S. captain, it would have been a huge international scandal.

"We would have been the enemy number one but it seems like they (U.S.) can get away with almost anything," he added.

Tarpishchev, who also serves as president of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) and is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said he had thought of pulling out of the tie but decided against a boycott.

"I always think of the players first and I know from past experience that any boycott is an especially a tough thing for them," he said. "Besides if we refuse, we are only going to get a fine and suspension from the Fed Cup."

Tarpishchev said he had sent a complaint to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the IOC.

[lexpretend]

Sharapova criticized for pulling out of Fed Cup semi

By Gennady Fyodorov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian tennis officials have again accused Maria Sharapova of putting her own interests ahead of her country after she pulled out of the team for this weekend's Fed Cup semi-final against the United States.

The world number two was included after initially agreeing to make her Fed Cup debut for Russia in the July 14-15 tie in Vermont before saying she was not match-fit.

"She said she is injured, so she will not play," Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev told Reuters.

Sharapova, who was soundly beaten by eventual champion Venus Williams in the fourth round at Wimbledon last week, has been suffering with a persistent shoulder injury since April.

"I'm telling you, just forget about all these promises," Russia's chief tennis coach Vladimir Kamelzon was quoted as saying by the influential daily Izvestia on Tuesday.

Kamelzon accused Sharapova's entourage of discouraging the Florida-based Russian from playing for her native country.

"Her closest advisers are Americans and they would never allow her to play for Russia," he said.

Local media also questioned Sharapova's Fed Cup commitment even before her pullout.

"Well, she never intended to play in the first place," said former national champion Anna Dmitrieva, who now works as a senior commentator for NTV television.

"All she wanted was to be included in the Fed Cup team so she would be eligible to play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics."

KOURNIKOVA COMPARISON

Sharapova had been scheduled to make her long-awaited Fed Cup debut against Spain in Moscow in April but pulled out on the eve of the first-round tie with a similar injury.

She gave additional ammunition to her critics by choosing to attend an awards presentation in Hollywood this week, her personal Web site Maria Sharapova.com said.

"It just shows where her real interests are," a source in the Russian tennis federation told Reuters. "So for many of us, her decision not to play Fed Cup didn't come as a big surprise.

"Once again she said she'd play, only to turn her back on the team at the last minute," said the source, who compared Sharapova to a former glamour girl of Russian tennis.

Anna Kournikova, who like Sharapova spends most of her time in the United States, turned down invitations to play for Russia on numerous occasions. The 26-year-old has not played on the tour since cutting short her 2003 season due to a back injury.

"It just sounds all too familiar, doesn't it?" the source added. "When it was time to play Fed Cup Kournikova would always come up with some injury, so after a while we just forgot about her. But we have many good, talented young players besides Sharapova who are able and willing to play for Russia."

[Brinyi]

"Happily, the USTA and the American Embassy managed to resolve the alleged delay and the visa was issued early on Thursday morning, allowing Tarpischev to travel to Vermont.
It would appear, however that two of the nominated Russian players will not be making the trip. It has been reported that both Maria Sharapova, who says she is not yet match-fit due to a persistent shoulder injury, and Svetlana Kuznetsova will miss the tie and will be replaced by Elena Vesnina and Alla Kudryavtseva"

[DBBN]

Given the way Sharapova and Kuznetsova have played the Williams sisters of late, I'd now rate Russia's chances as better.

[sasha]

It's too bad that Sharapova (USA) will not take part in the festivities.

[janie]

France vs Italy is live on TTC. Garbin is about to take the 2nd set from Tati RedPants.

[janie]

Franny took out Amelie in convincing fashion! Franny is fun to watch.

[DBBN]

Watching Fed Cup was fun! But nothing of consequence really happened.