Written by
The Sports Network
Charleroi, Belgium (Sports Network) - Serbia and Belgium are even after the
first day of play at their Fed Cup quarterfinal.
Jelena Jankovic gave Serbia the first point on Saturday with a 7-5, 7-5 win
over Kirsten Flipkens, but Yanina Wickmayer pulled the hosts even in the best-
of-five tie with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Bojana Jovanovski.
The players had to fight through cold conditions, even though the matches were
played indoors, as temperatures outside the Spiroudome were on the negative
side of freezing. Overnight snow also affected the building's heating system.
Flipkens, ranked 176th, had plenty of chances to upend the former world No. 1
Jankovic in the opening match. However, she managed to convert just 2-of-11
break-point chances.
Wickmayer was looking at a potential third set in the day's second match, but
rallied from a 1-4 deficit in the second by winning the final five games.
The winners from Saturday will square off in the first reverse singles match
on Sunday, as Jankovic will face Wickmayer. Flipkens and Jovanovski are slated
for the second singles match, while Jankovic is also scheduled for doubles
duty with Aleksandra Krunic against the Belgian duo of Tamaryn Hendler and
Alison Van Uytvanck.
Belgium owns one Fed Cup title, while Serbia is still in search of its first
championship. The Belgians are 2-0 all-time versus the Serbs.
The winner will face the Russia-Spain victor in the semifinals in April.
The Sports Network