tennisIlove09
Nov 8th, 2003, 02:31 AM
Mauresmo, Pierce, Loit Lead French Fed Cup Team
Photo By Fred Mullane By Tennis Week
11/08/2003
Mary Pierce will travel to Moscow to make a long-awaited homecoming of sorts. The former French Open champion has joined Amelie Mauresmo, Emilie Loit and Stephanie Cohen-Alero on the French Fed Cup squad that will square off with host Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals set for November 19-20th in Moscow.
French Fed Cup captain Guy Forget selected Pierce to replace the injured Nathalie Dechy, who sustained a left wrist injury during the U.S. Open and is not expected to return to competitive tennis until 2004.
The 28-year-old Pierce makes a return to Fed Cup competition after an eight-year
absence. Her last appearance was in July 1995 when France lost to the United States in the semifinals.
Currently ranked No. 33, the Montreal-born Pierce is a Sarasota, Florida resident who has retained her France citizenship. Pierce's mother, Yannick, is French.
The French team faces a formidable challenge from Russia as Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev has named eighth-ranked Anastasia Myskina, ninth-ranked Elena Dementieva, 12th-ranked Nadia Petrova and 13th-ranked Vera Zvonareva to the team.
In the other semifinal, the United States' squad of Martina Navratilova, Lisa Raymond, Meghann Shaughnessy and Alexandra Stevenson meets a Belgian team playing with its two best players: top-ranked Kim Clijsters and second-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne, who have both opted not to play. The Belgian B team features Els Callens, Caroline Maes, Elke Clijsters, Kim's younger sister, and U.S. Open girls champion Kirsten Flipkens.
The semifinal winners will advance to the Fed Cup final November 22nd-23rd also at Moscow’s Olympic Stadium.
The official nominations of all four teams competing in the semifinals will be confirmed on Monday. Under Fed Cup Rules, up to two nominations may be changed up to one hour before the draw, which will take place on Tuesday, November 18th. Please visit the Fed Cup web site for the latest news in the countdown to the Fed Cup semifinals.
Photo By Fred Mullane By Tennis Week
11/08/2003
Mary Pierce will travel to Moscow to make a long-awaited homecoming of sorts. The former French Open champion has joined Amelie Mauresmo, Emilie Loit and Stephanie Cohen-Alero on the French Fed Cup squad that will square off with host Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals set for November 19-20th in Moscow.
French Fed Cup captain Guy Forget selected Pierce to replace the injured Nathalie Dechy, who sustained a left wrist injury during the U.S. Open and is not expected to return to competitive tennis until 2004.
The 28-year-old Pierce makes a return to Fed Cup competition after an eight-year
absence. Her last appearance was in July 1995 when France lost to the United States in the semifinals.
Currently ranked No. 33, the Montreal-born Pierce is a Sarasota, Florida resident who has retained her France citizenship. Pierce's mother, Yannick, is French.
The French team faces a formidable challenge from Russia as Russian captain Shamil Tarpischev has named eighth-ranked Anastasia Myskina, ninth-ranked Elena Dementieva, 12th-ranked Nadia Petrova and 13th-ranked Vera Zvonareva to the team.
In the other semifinal, the United States' squad of Martina Navratilova, Lisa Raymond, Meghann Shaughnessy and Alexandra Stevenson meets a Belgian team playing with its two best players: top-ranked Kim Clijsters and second-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne, who have both opted not to play. The Belgian B team features Els Callens, Caroline Maes, Elke Clijsters, Kim's younger sister, and U.S. Open girls champion Kirsten Flipkens.
The semifinal winners will advance to the Fed Cup final November 22nd-23rd also at Moscow’s Olympic Stadium.
The official nominations of all four teams competing in the semifinals will be confirmed on Monday. Under Fed Cup Rules, up to two nominations may be changed up to one hour before the draw, which will take place on Tuesday, November 18th. Please visit the Fed Cup web site for the latest news in the countdown to the Fed Cup semifinals.