By Etienne Stekelenburg
April 26 2004

Els Callens of Belgium defeats Jelena Kostanic of Croatia to secure the Belgian Fed Cup team a spot into the next round. Callens needed three sets to win over Kostanic, 6-2 3-6 and 6-4. Leading 3-1 the Belgian team brought their youngsters on court to play the double and lost to the Croatian double. Els Callens had no problems dealing with Elena Kostanic in the first set of the Belgium vs Croatia Fed Cup meeting. She easily won 6-2 but Kostanic came back in the second set. The Croatian was 3-0 ahead and never gave away the lead to win it 6-3.

In the third set both players were more equal to each other. Both had their chances to turn the match into their advantage. In the 3rd game Callens had a chance to break but Kostanic came back to advantage and won her game with a solid winner.

In the 5th game Callens again had a break chance but this time she could take it after Kostanic came back to deuce three times. Callens took her chance when she was on advantage again, this time she won the point and was leading 3-2. Holding her own game she took a 4-2 lead.

Both players held their service game and on 5-4 Callens held her first matchpoint. After 1 hour and 52 minutes of play she served an ace to close the match and the Belgian victory over Croatia.

“It was not my intension to hit an ace, I just wanted to hit a good serve”, Callens said about the way she finished the match. She has been on the Belgian Fed Cup team for many times and still holds good memories about the matches she played.

“I like to play for the Fed Cup team, specially in Belgium there is always a good atmosphere. There is always a little more pressure to perform well. My best memories are when I first played against Spain and won my first match. If Spain defeats Switzerland we have to play Spain again. I hope Switzerland wins than we can play home again”, Callens said about the meeting that was still ongoing after she finished her match.

Team Coach Ivo van Aken of Belgium said he was not sure if Kim Clijsters is going to join the team if the next round will be held in Spain. “They will obviously choose for red clay and than we are going towards the hardcourt season again. I don’t think it will fit into Kim’s schedule, so I hope Switzerland wins the double that is going on right now”.

The Belgian youngsters Elke Clijsters and Kirsten Flipkens were brought on court to play the last match of the meeting. They had to play against Daria Jurak and 1997 French Open Champion Iva Majoli. The Croatian team won the match that did not matter for the victory anymore ending the score 3-2 for the Belgian Fed Cup team.