Belgium, Spain eves look to end US reign

Belgium, Spain eves look to end US reign

LAS VEGAS, NOVEMBER 21: Spanish veterans Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez have the experience. Belgian teen stars Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin have the youthful enthusiasm.

And the United States has the Fed Cup -- but not for longunless World No 2 Lindsay Davenport and fourth-ranked Monica Seles answer the very different challenges of their European rivals.

The women's team tennis crown will be decided here on Friday and Saturday on a fast indoor surface between the winners of semi-final ties matching the Czech Republic against Spain on Tuesday and Belgium against the US team Wednesday.

``They are favoured because they're playing at home and they play well on this surface,'' Martinez said of the hosts. ``It's always tough to play this surface. It's pretty fast. I like clay and outdoors. That's a big advantage for them.''

Belgian veteran Dominique Van Roost, retiring after the event, likes her team's chance of dethroning the US team and reaching its first Fed Cup final.

``I'm very happy to end my career at the Fed Cup. It's superb moment,'' she said. ``A new generation has arrived. There is a great age diffrence but the girls have brought a new energy. They don't have a lot of presure on them.''

The Americans will try to extend their record title total to 17. The Spanish seek their sixth title in 10 years.

``It's similar to when you play a Grand Slam,'' Sanchez said. ``Only it's not just for yourself. It means a lot for our country.''

US Open and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and her sister Serena are out with injuries, denying the hosts much-marketed singles stars as well as an Olympic and Grand Slam champion doubles duo.

``It doesn't matter who the Americans send to play. They have so many good players,'' Sanchez said. ``Definitely the Williams sisters are great. But I don't think they only have to depend on them. Lindsay and Monica are very good.''

Seles is coming off a finals loss to Martina Hingis on Sunday at the WTA Championships in New York and Davenport won two weeks ago at Philadelphia.

``Seles is playing great and Lindsay is a great player,'' Martinez said.

Both Spaniards have winning ledgers against Davenport but she is 18-2 in Fed Cup singles play and Seles is 18-1 against Martinez and 19-3 against Sanchez.

``She had a good run at New York. That's going to give her confidence to play well,'' Sanchez said. ``They're favourites, have top players, play at home, are defending champions. They have much more pressure. That helps Conchita and I.''

In semi-final pairings made yesterday, No 9 Sanchez opens against 54th-rated Czech Daja Bedanova with No 5 Martinez following against 47th-ranked Kveta Hrdlickova. The same four are matched in the concluding doubles match.

Martinez beat Hrdlickova 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in 1998 at Warsaw on clay in their only prior match. Sanchez and Bedanova are playing for the first time.