Serena Plans To Play Fed Cup Semi In Moscow 06/23/2005 Serena Williams was in a philanthropic mood following her opening-round Wimbledon victory over fellow former Compton resident Angela Haynes. The two-time Wimbledon winner gave her broken racquet to a fan, gave Haynes credit for playing "unbelievable" tennis and gave her word she will represent the United States Fed Cup team when it travels to Moscow to take on defending Fed Cup champion Russia in the July 9-10th semifinals. Williams was sidelined with an ankle injury when the U.S. Fed Cup squad — older sister Venus, top-ranked Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu — swept Belgium, 5-0, on the strength of two singles victories apiece from Davenport and Venus. In the aftermath of that victory, Serena said helping the U.S. claim a record-extending 18th Fed Cup was a top priority. She reaffirmed her commitment to Fed Cup yesterday and is convinced the United States can capture the Cup. "When I was in Delray, I vowed to go to Moscow, so I like to keep my word, unless something happens where I can't go," Serena said. "But it's tough definitely to go to Moscow after this. But I would love to see...I think we have the best players, although a lot of people think otherwise. I think we still have the best talent. I think as of right now with Lindsay and Venus and myself, we could bring the Cup home. I plan on going to Moscow." The Williams sisters have a good relationship with U.S. Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison who has worked with them on the Fed Cup and Olympic teams in the past. Garrison knows she needs both Serena Williams and Venus Williams to join Davenport on the squad for the semifinals against a Russian team that could boast three Grand Slam champions. "I have told them that I'm going to need each and every one of them," Garrison said. "We have to have our top guns to go in there with." Williams was forced to fire back from a one-set deficit against Haynes and drew inspiration from an unlikely source — a fan who implored her to "turn it up". Williams complied, finding new life on the Graveyard Of Champions court.she definitely turned it up. "A fan told her to 'Turn up the heat, Serena', " Haynes said. "Since then, she really stepped it up in that last set around, like, 4-2 or 3-2, she turned her game up." The result was a ferociously fought 6-7(12), 6-4, 6-2 victory. When it was over, Williams handed the racquet she smashed in frustration at the conclusion of the first set to an appreciative fan who held up the broken Wilson frame with pride. Asked how hard it is to break a racquet on a grass court, Williams replied: "You have to be real strong. (I've broken) just two this week, which is good for me. Usually I'm at five. I have a really short temper. But it makes the game exciting, I like to say." --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 60.240.198.83