 Photographer: Kyle Clapham
Date: 21 Apr 2007 |  Photographer: Takeo Tanuma Photography
Date: 26 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 25 Apr 2004 |  Photographer: Arne Forsell
Date: 27 Apr 2003 |  Photographer: None/Not Applicable
Date: 22 Dec 2009 | |
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| 07 Feb 2010 | |
| Canada, Japan, Slovenia, Sweden reach World Group II
Play-offs |
Canada, Japan, Slovenia and Sweden have all qualified for the 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group II Play-offs after winning through their respective Zonal Group I events last week. The Play-off ties will be held alongside the World Group semifinals on 24-25 April.
Canada was the class act in Americas Zone Group I in Lambare, Paraguay, winning the event for the second successive year. However the team was taken to a deciding rubber in its final group tie against Brazil, after world No. 36 Aleksandra Wozniak suffered a shock defeat to 259th-ranked Maria Fernanda Alves. There were no such problems in the final, with Wozniak and Sharon Fichman recording straight sets singles victories in a 2-0 triumph over Colombia.
Thirty-nine-year-old old Kimiko Date-Krumm starred for Japan as it won Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Contesting the event for the first time since 1996, Date-Krumm won all four of her singles, including a vital success in the final against Chinese Taipei after Ayumi Morita had lost the opening rubber. Morita and Rika Fujiwara booked Japan’s place in the World Group II Play-offs with a deciding doubles victory.
There were several surprises in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Lisbon, Portugal. Despite the presence of top 10 players Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki among the 16 nations, it was Slovenia and Sweden who emerged victorious.
Slovenia, for whom Katerina Srebotnik made a successful return from injury, edged out Netherlands as group winner after the two teams both won two of their three ties. In the promotional play-offs, the team then scored a comfortable 3-0 victory over Switzerland after Swiss No. 1 Patty Schnyder was unable to contest the tie due to flu.
Sweden, led by Sofia Arvidsson, defeated Denmark, Latvia and Hungary to win its group, before enjoying a surprisingly one-sided 3-0 win over Austria in the play-offs.
The four teams will be joined in the World Group II Play-offs by the four first round losers in 2010 World Group II. The draw will take place in London on Wednesday 10 February.
Full results from the week's Zonal Group events can be found by clicking the links below:
Europe/Africa Zone Group I
Americas Zone Group I
Asia/Oceania Zone Group I
Asia/Oceania Zone Group II
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