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MONTREAL -- Canada accomplished everything it hoped for Saturday at the Fed Cup. Earl Campbell Womens Jersey . Wins by Aleksandra Wozniak and Eugenie Bouchard in World Group II action gives Canada a 2-0 lead over Serbia at Montreals Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. Bouchard beat Serbias Jovana Jaksic in straight sets 6-1, 6-0, after Wozniak beat Serbias Vesna Dolonc 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, earlier in the day. "Its what we wanted to accomplish today, and we did it," said Bouchard, who made quick work of her opponent, winning in straight sets in under an hour. "We can be happy with how today went." To win the first round tie, Canada needs just one more victory on Sunday. "The jobs not over," said Bouchard, whos ranked No. 19 on the WTA Tour. "Anything can happen. We need to be ready for them to come out swinging. Ill be ready. Hopefully we can close it out." Bouchard will play 117th-ranked Dolonc on Sunday afternoon, with Wozniak facing Jaksic afterwards. Sharon Fichman (ranked No. 112) and Gabriela Dabrowski (No. 224) will team up in doubles against Aleksandra Krunic (No. 152) and Nina Stojanovic (unranked). If, however, Bouchard beats Dolonc, Canada will win the tie, and Wozniak will not have to take to the court. Instead, the tie will culminate with the doubles contest. The winning team will have the opportunity to advance from the World Group II to the World Group, which includes the worlds eight best teams. Canada will also have the chance to avenge a 3-2 road loss to Serbia in a 2011 Group II that ultimately relegated the Canadians to a lower division. Wozniak, currently sitting at No. 274 in the world, was on that Canadian team in 2011, her last Fed Cup prior to injuring her shoulder. Wozniak played in only seven tournaments last year because of the injury, but is preparing her comeback. On Saturday, she was feeling healthy, and happy to be competing for her country. "It was a real hill to climb," said Wozniak of her recent injury trouble. "Every game will help me progress, help my game and my confidence. Im going to continue climbing to get back to the top." Down 1-5 in the first set, Wozniak made adjustments to her game and began dictating the run of play. "I stayed concentrated on every single point," said Wozniak, who started going to the net with more confidence midway through the set. "I wanted to set the pace of the game. (Dolonc) was playing well, and I was missing my shots. I held on and took it one point at a time." Wozniak won the next five games, breaking Doloncs serve twice in the process, to take a 6-5 lead. In the deciding game, Wozniak completed the comeback when Dolonc hit the net to double fault on set point. "It was a joke for me to get to 5-1," said Dolonc. "But then she started finding her game. It was getting tighter and tighter. She was feeling more confident, and I was feeling less confident." In the final set, after Dolonc handily took the second 6-2, Wozniak came to the net on match point, forcing Dolonc to miss the baseline. "Its something I want to do," said Wozniak, whos won more games (38) representing Canada at the Fed Cup than any other player. "When I have the chance, I set it up, and I want to come to the net and play aggressive. "I was extremely emotional. I really wanted to celebrate with my team. I play with a lot of emotion when I play for my country. Thats why I have so much success in Fed Cups." Facing a young Serb making her Fed Cup debut, Bouchards match was certainly less of a nail-biter. Already leading 5-1 in the first set, Bouchard fired a forehand winner out of Jaksics reach on set point. In the second set, Jaksic, ranked No. 149, couldnt do much to slow Bouchard down, winning only six points. "I was feeling a bit of pressure," said Jaksic. "I put too much on myself. I had to do too much, and in the end I didnt do anything. I was feeling so slow. My legs were like stone. I couldnt move." Bouchard, who didnt double fault and only made two unforced errors in the second set, won the match when Jaksic sent her final shot long. "She might have been intimidated," said Bouchard. "I dont know. I like to focus on my own play on the court. But I certainly hope so. That would be a good thing." The 19-year-old from Montreal created a buzz last month by reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open, the first Canadian woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in 20 years. But eventual tournament champion Li Na of China ended Bouchards impressive run with a straight-sets win. "I definitely have a lot more confidence now," said Bouchard. "In playing games against the best in the world, I get better every time. And thats my goal, to improve every time." Warren Moon Titans Jersey . The Nets continued their winning ways Tuesday by sweeping a back-to-back set for the first time this season, beating the Orlando Magic 101-90 a night after routing the crosstown rival New York Knicks. Brian Schwenke Womens Jersey . The squad is expected to be divided into 23 players with seven back-ups, although FIFA regulations require only a 30-man provisional squad to be named by May 13.ALTENMARKT-ZAUCHENSEE, Austria -- Elisabeth Goergl beat Anna Fenninger for an Austrian 1-2 finish at a womens World Cup downhill Saturday, ending a two-year drought for the ski-mad nation in the sports fastest discipline. Goergl, the 2011 world champion, started 28th after the other top contenders had already gone down but had the fastest time at each interval. Goergl finished the demanding 3-kilometre Kaelberloch course in 1 minute, 47.45 seconds to deny Fenninger her first career downhill win by 0.56 seconds. "I know I had a super run. That gives me satisfaction," said Goergl, who also was the last Austrian woman to win a downhill -- in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, in January 2012. "I am glad that I had a smooth run," Goergl said. "Winning isnt the most important to me. What really counts is skiing well. I wasnt able to show that last year." It was the first 1-2 finish in a World Cup downhill for Austrian women since 2007. Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, who has won two downhills this season, came 0.63 behind in third and lost her lead in the overall standings to Fenninger by six points, 677-671. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein is third with 659 points. Weirather came 0.91 behind in fourth. Nicole Hosp, wearing bib No. 31, seemed on her way to make it an Austrian sweep of the podium but was slowed in a couple of turns and took fifth. Fenninger was regarded as a big favourite, coming off a giant slalom win in Lienz and having posted the fastest time in the only training here on Thursday. She built a huge lead before a costly mistake at a sharp turn just before the finish section. "I think I took too much risk there," Fenninger said. "I wasnt prepared for that turn. I knew after that mistake my lead might not be enough. I expected Liz (Goergl) to do well. I am just happy with my perfoormance. Jason McCourty Womens Jersey. " Taking the overall World Cup lead didnt mean much to Fenninger, who downplayed her chances of becoming the first Austrian woman since Hosp in 2007 to win the big crystal globe. "Its just a matter of time before Maria is going to win a lot of points in slalom and then my chances are gone," said Fenninger, who doesnt compete in slalom events. Hoefl-Riesch set a record by earning her 25th career podium in downhill, making her the only skier -- male or female -- with at least 25 top-three finishes in both downhill and slalom. "I was happy to see the green light after I crossed the finish line but I knew it most likely wouldnt be enough," Hoefl-Riesch said. "I felt it wasnt a good run in the upper part of the course." Lara Gut of Switzerland, who has won four events this season, finished 1.34 back 11th. Defending overall champion Tina Maze of Slovenia was another 0.03 back in 12th in her first race under new coach Mauro Pini. Pini, one of Guts former coaches, replaced Walter Ronconi in Mazes team this week. Maze said Pini gave her "good feedback on the hill" and would be able to help her regain the form that earned her the overall title last season. With five-time downhill champion Lindsey Vonn out for the season because of her right knee injury, Julia Mancuso was the fastest American. Mancuso trailed Goergl by 1.39 in 13th for her best result of the Olympic season. "It was a good run. You cant expect to change everything in one run," said Mancuso, whose previous best in downhill this season was 20th. "Now I really believe I can win a race. I feel a lot better on my equipment. I skied positive the whole run and was trying to be confident." A super-combined event, consisting of a super-G and one slalom run, is scheduled for Sunday. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
