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Russia ties with Belgium on Fed Cup

Saturday`s best-of-five Fed Cup battle ended with a tie after former titlist Belgium and defending champion Russia both scored one victory each. The early advantage was Russia`s when Elena Dementieve defeated former world No.1 Kim Clijsters 6-4, 6-3. However, Justine Henin-Hardenne, another former world No. 1, evened the tie up at 1-1 after she bested the red-hot Nadia Petrova 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-3.

Belgium is 2-1 all-time against Russia and has won the last two meetings, including 2001 when Belgium captured it`s first-ever title. However, Russia has topped France 3-2 in each of the last two Fed Cup finals. The winner of the tie will meet the victor of the Germany-United States matchup in the semifinals in July.

The United States took a 2-0 lead in its tie against host Germany in Ettenheim in the two countries first meeting since 1992. Playing without any of its top stars, the United States used wins from Jill Craybas, its highest-ranked player at No. 39, and Jamea Jackson to take the early edge on Saturday. Craybas defeated Julia Schruff 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, while Jackson downed Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. The Americans are 6-4 all-time versus Germany.