Wickmayer dispenses of 2nd Bondarenko, and Spain moves on

Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain took out Italy's two top Fed Cup players

Not content to just upset Kateryna Bondarenko in Fed Cup, Yanina Wickmayer has also upset Alona Bondarenko, 6-3, 6-4, giving Belgium a 2-1 lead over Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova, continuing her steamroller run, took care of Shahar Peer, 6-1, 6-1, to give Russia a 4-1 victory over Israel in Fed Cup.

The biggest news, however, is that Anabel Medina Garrigues, who defeated Flavia Pennetta, has now also defeated Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 6-1, which moves Spain to the Fed Cup semifinals. Italy was last year's finalist.

15 aces and 11 double faults later, Lisicki scores for Germany

It was almost inevitable that Sabine Lisicki would upset Lindsay Davenport in their Fed Cup match. I say this because I chose to go to the movies rather than watch Fed Cup on TV, and that is generally a good predictor of an upset or a thriller in the making. Lisicki defeated Davenport 6-1, 7-5 (she was down 2-5 in the second set), but that was not the only upset of the day.

Nuria Llagorstera Vives upset Francesca Schiavone, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. Making Spain's lead over Italy even more pronounced was Anabel Medina Garrigues, who defeated Flavia Pennetta, 6-2, 6-3.

Belgium scored an upset, too, when Yanina Wickmayer defeated Kateryna Bondarenko, 7-6, 6-1. (Note to Fed Cup: It would be a good idea to spell Bondarenko's name correctly on your website.)

And China is 2-0 against France, with Peng Shuai's defeat of Virginie Razzano (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) and Li Na's defeat of Alize Cornet (6-3, 6-1).

Now THIS is the way to treat the sports press

From an Israeli reporter's interview with Maria Sharapova:

Do you have a boyfriend?
I don’t comment on my personal life.

Why?
Why are you so interested in my personal life? You want to take the vacant post?

Read some more on TennisInfoBlog.

Cirstea defeats Jankovic in Fed Cup

Sorana Cirstea, who is on my watch list, has defeated Jelena Jankovic, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in their Fed Cup match.

Williams withdraws from Open Gaz de France

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Open Gaz de France tournament, which begins Monday in Paris. Williams dropped out because she needs to have dental surgery. She was the number 2 seed.

Suarez weds

Recently retired Paola Suarez, former world number 1 in doubles, has married. You can see some lovely wedding photos here.

Friday cat blogging--big baby edition

Tarzan sleeps with his hippo