WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

USA v BELGIUM
Venue: Delray Beach, FL, USA (hard– outdoors)

USA
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Lisa Raymond
Vania King
Captain: Zina Garrison

Belgium
Kirsten Flipkens
Caroline Maes
Yanina Wickmayer
Tamaryn Hendler
Captain: Sabine Appelmans

Serena & Venus to play - Raymond & King will probably be the doubles pairing though lets face it they can probably play singles and it will still be a USA whitewash against this understrength Belgium team

USA to win 5-0

RUSSIA v SPAIN
Venue: Moscow, Russia (clay – indoors)

Russia
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Nadia Petrova
Anna Chakvetadze
Elena Vesnina
Captain: Shamil Tarpischev

Spain
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Lourdes Dominguez-Lino
Laura Pous-Tio
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Captain: Miguel Margets

Kuznetsova returns to Fed Cup duty after skipping last years tie against Belgium (where she has refused to play after the drug allegations) She & Petrova are probably Russia's best on clay so Sharapova won't be missed. Chakvetadze is a great back up if required.

Russia to win 5-0

FRANCE v JAPAN
Venue: Limoges, France (clay – indoors)

France
Tatiana Golovin
Severine Bremond
Natalie Dechy
Virginie Razzano
Captain: Georges Goven

Japan
Ai Sugiyama
Akiko Morigami
Aiko Nakamura
Ayumi Morita
Captain: Minoru Ueda

This is an interesting one - normally this would be an easy win for France (especially since it's clay) but without Mauresmo or Pierce it's left to Golovin to lead the team. She's in good form obviously but red clay isn't her best surface nor is it Bremond or Dechy's. Still France should still win this as long as Golovin is fit & healthy (and not too tired after Amelia Island/Charleston)

France to win 4-1

ITALY v CHINA, P.R.
Venue: Castellaneta Marina, Italy (clay – outdoors)

Italy
Francesca Schiavone
Tathiana Garbin
Flavia Pennetta
Roberta Vinci
Captain: Corrado Barazzutti

China, P.R.
Shuai Peng
Tian-Tian Sun
Shuai Zhang
Sheng-Nan Sun
Captain: tbc

I can understand the theory behind not playing certain players to give more players opportunities to qualify for the Olympics but it does hurt China's chances of progressing here. However Schiavone & Pennetta have not been in top form lately so it's still likely to be the tightest match however Italy singles players are stronger so I think they should just take this.

Italy to win 3-2

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND

SLOVAK REP v CZECH REP
Venue: Bratislava, Slovak Republic (clay – outdoors)

Slovak Republic
Daniela Hantuchova
Dominika Cibulkova
Magdalena Rybarikova
Janette Husarova
Captain: Mojmir Mihal

Czech Republic
Nicole Vaidisova
Lucie Safarova
Iveta Benesova
Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova
Captain: Ales Kodat

This is probably the pick of the World Group II ties with the Czech Republic in particular looking like a strong team. Clay isn't Vaidisova best surface but then it's not Hantuchova's either & since the Czech Republic has the stronger second singles player in Safarova they should win this. Would be good to see this Czech Republic team in the world group next year.

Czech Republic to win 4-1

GERMANY v CROATIA
Venue: Fürth, Germany (clay – outdoors)

Germany
Anna-Lena Groenefeld
Sandra Kloesel
Tatiana Malek
Andrea Petkovic
Captain: Barbara Rittner

Croatia
tbc

Without knowing the Croatian team it's hard to tell but if Sprem shows up in form and Groenefeld plays as badly as she has lately then it could go Croatia's way.

CANADA v ISRAEL
Venue: Kamloops, Canada(carpet – indoors)

Canada
Aleksandra Wozniak
Stephanie Dubois
Marie-Eve Pelletier
Valerie Tetreault
Captain: Rene Collins

Israel
Shahar Peer
Anna Smashnova
Tzipora Obziler
Julia Glushko
Captain: Oded Jacob

Israel will win this!

Israel to win 4-1

AUSTRIA v AUSTRALIA
Venue: Dornbirn, Austria (clay – indoors)

Austria
Sybille Bammer
Tamira Paszek
Yvonne Meusburger
Melanie Klaffner
Captain: Alfred Tesar

Australia
Samantha Stosur
Nicola Pratt
Alicia Molik
Rennae Stubbs
Captain: David Taylor

Another real battle here but the Australians start out with a disadvantage since this is being played on clay. Bammer should win both her singles matches but Australia have the better doubles options so it all could depend on whether Paszek can pull off a big win.

Austria to win 3-2

Great post GS2, the match that stands out to me is USA vs Belgium, because of the players now and the players last year, it makes you think how much can change in tennis in a season. Im rooting for Russia to win it this year, seeing as MAry wont be representing France

oooo interesting...

with China, only one good singles player there (that i know of). Peng Shuai isnt too bad, kicked Schnyder off the draw last night WHOOP!

fingers crossed China get can through this stage. will be very close though i think against italy :o

Thanks for that in-depth post, GS2. It was a good read.

It's impressive to see Russia pull out three Top 10 players for a tie at a moment's notice, especially (as you say) two of their best performers on clay. If they weren't already a prohibitive favourite before they certainly would be now; even with AMG posting some wins in Charleston this week it won't be enough, especially with their top doubles player (the only rubber where they might've had any semblance of an edge) Ruano Pascal out with an injury.

I also like Liam's interesting observation about the role reversal from last year's US v Belgium tie (I recall that King was nearly double-bagelled by Clijsters). Really a shame both Henin and Clijsters couldn't play the tie, what with all the singles rubbers potentially having been virtually Slam final-quality match-ups. It would have been like a mini-YEC. The Russia-US semi should prove just as intriguing, however.

Glad to hear it Liam :D

Here are Croatia's line up according to the fed cup site.


Jelena KOSTANIC TOSIC


Ivana Lisjak


Sanja Ancic (Mario's little - 1.78m - sister)


Petra MARTIC



Team Captain
Goran PRPIC

Draw has been made for the World Group play off ties - to be played after Wimbledon

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS
Home nations listed first, seeded nations in capitals

AUSTRIA v Israel

BELGIUM v China, P.R.

JAPAN v Germany

SPAIN v Czech Republic

Austria v Israel could be a real battle Bammer & Paszek made a formidable team against the Aussies while Israel is probably a little more dependent on their star player (Peer).

Unless Justine turns up for Belgium I can't see them having any chance against China (which will presumably field a proper team next time now that it knows the Olympic rules!!)

Japan v Germany should be a home win for Japan who will presumably pick a fast surface more suitable for them than the clay they were on versus France. Unless Gronefeld remembers how to play tennis in the meantime of course!

With womens tennis in Spain producing nothing much at the moment it's probably time for them to fall out of the world group and they probably will here even with home advantage (surely they'll play on clay?) If both Vaidsiova & Safarova play they should have too much for Spain. Would be good to see the Czech's in the World Group next year.

How come Israel have to play this? I thought they won at the weekend :huh:

Yeah they won their World Group II match along with Austria, Czech Republic & Germany.

So now those 4 have to face off with the 4 losers from the World Group I first round matches in order to qualify for the World Group I next year!!

Whichever 4 teams win this round will meet USA, Russia, France & Italy in the World Group I next year.

are they are still in the 1/4s this year???? this is more confusing than the DC :wacko: