USA vs. Belarus – Fed Cup Update

Written by: Staff on 6th February 2012

USA vs. Belarus - Fed Cup Update

Serena Williams of the United States her nails painted and her legs taped as she serves in her fourth round match against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2012. Makarova won in two sets. EPA/BARBARA WALTON |

United States vs. Belarus

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas

2012 World Group II First Round

DCU Center

Worcester, Mass. * February 4-5, 2012

UNITED STATES def. BELARUS 5-0

The United States swept Belarus 5-0 today in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II First Round on an indoor hard court at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

After leading 2-0 on Day One, Serena Williams opened play and clinched the tie with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, win over Anastasiya Yakimova. The opening set was the first set Serena Williams has lost in Fed Cup competition. Yakimova was substituted for world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who did not play both Saturday and Sunday due to a lower back injury. In the dead rubber singles match, American teenager Christina McHale won her second Fed Cup singles match of the weekend by defeating Darya Kustova 6-0, 6-1, in just 53 minutes. In doubles, Venus Williams and Liezel Huber defeated Yakimova and Kustova 6-1, 6-2. This was Venus Williams’ first match since the 2011 US Open.

Since the Fed Cup home-away format was instituted in 1995, the U.S. is now 18-3 when playing at home. The team holds an overall 141-32 Fed Cup record.

With the win this weekend, the U.S. will compete in the World Group Playoff in April to vie for a spot to the World Group in 2013.

RESULTS

DAY/TIME MATCH PAIRING

Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET

Singles A: Christina McHale (USA) def. Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) 6-0, 6-4

Singles B: Serena Williams (USA) def. Olga Govortsova (BLR) 7-5, 6-0

Sunday, 12:00 p.m. ET

Singles C: Serena Williams (USA) def. Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) 5-7, 6-1, 6-1

Singles D: Christina McHale (USA) def. Darya Kustova (BLR) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles: Venus Williams/Liezel Huber (USA) def. Anastasiya Yakimova/Darya Kustova (BLR) 6-1, 6-2

WHAT’S NEXT…

The U.S. advances to the World Group Playoff, held April 21-22. The World Group Playoff includes the four teams that lost in the World Group First Round (Spain, Belgium, Ukraine, and Germany) and the four teams that won in the World Group II First Round this weekend (United States, Japan, Slovak Republic, and Australia). The top four teams in the updated Fed Cup rankings will be seeded and will be drawn against the four remaining teams on February 14. The winners of the World Group Playoffs will advance to the World Group next year and contend for the 2013 Fed Cup title.

Currently ranked No. 4, the U.S. is expected to be seeded going in the World Group Playoff and is likely to face one of the following teams: Germany (at home), Japan (away), Australia and Slovak Republic (host nation determined by coin toss). If Germany jumps ahead of Ukraine in the Fed Cup rankings, then Germany is expected to be seeded and the U.S. could play Ukraine (host nation determined by coin toss).

FED CUP RESULTS

WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND

Russia defeated Spain,

Serbia def. Belgium,

Italy def. with Ukraine,

Czech Republic def. Germany,

WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND

USA def. Belarus, 5-0

3-2 Japan def. Slovenia, 5-0

3-2 Slovak Republic def. France, 3-2

4-1 Australia def. Switzerland, 4-1

Topics: Fed Cup 2012, Serena Williams