February 7, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Kim Clijsters defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 6-7 (10), 6-2, 6-1, to give Belgium a 4-1 win over the United States in Fed Cup World Group and head into the semifinals. Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer defeated Melanie Oudin, 6-2, 6-0, to give the Belgians a 4-0 lead. Belgium is set to host the Czech Republic in Charleroi on April 16-17 for a berth in the Fed Cup World Group finals.
The U.S. won its only point when the doubles duo of Liezel Huber & Vania King defeated the Belgian team of Kirsten Flipkens & An-Sophie Mestach, 6-3, 7-5.
The Czech Republic is also headed to the Fed Cup semis after Petra Kvitova secured the decisive win in the first reverse singles en route to a 3-2 victory over Slovakia in Bratislava.
The Russian team rallied from 2-0 down against France, as Svetlana Kuznetsova & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova were victorious in their reverse singles match and secure a 3-2 victory. Russia will host Italy on April 16-17, as Italy defeated the Australian team when Flavia Pennetta defeated Jarmila Groth, 6-3, 6-2 and closed out a 4-1 victory.
