Close friends to team up on court

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000 | 9:56 a.m.

In tonight's third Fed Cup rubber match at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, the U.S. team of Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond will have to get reacquainted when it plays the Belgium duo of Dominque Van Roost, but Davenport isn't concerned.

Though it has been a few years since Davenport, ranked No. 2 in singles and Raymond, ranked No. 5 in doubles, have been doubles partners, the two are close friends off the court.

In contrast, the Van Roost and Callens have been partners most of the year and recently reached the semifinals of the season-ending Chase Championships in New York. Callens is ranked 15th in doubles and Van Roost is ranked 21st.

"I think it always helps when you play regularly with a partner," Davenport said. "Although I think in Lisa and my case, we've played together for a number of years a few years ago.

"So I think the chemistry is there. It might take us a few games to get into the rhythm of playing doubles with someone different, but we know each other's games very well. By playing together in the past, I think that we're pretty much aware of what each player is expected to do and what their roles are on the court."

The winner of this tie will play Spain in the best-of-five finals spread out over Friday and Saturday.

Ultimately, the doubles match between the U.S. and Belgium might not matter because the Fed Cup semifinals are best-of-three.

At 4:30 p.m., American Monica Seles, No. 4 in the world, will play Belgian teenager Justine Henin, No. 48. That match will be followed by Davenport facing another youngster, 17-year-old Kim Clijsters.

It will be the first meeting between Seles and Henin and the second meeting between Davenport and Clijsters. Davenport beat the 17-year-old in three sets in the second round of the U.S. Open this year.

Should the U.S. sweep the Belgians in singles or vice versa, the doubles rubber will be of no consequence in which case Raymond will most likely team up with Jennifer Capriati instead of Davenport. In a dead rubber, the team captain can choose whoever he wants to represent his nation.

If it does count, Davenport and Raymond will not only have to adapt to each other, but to Van Roost and Callens as well.

The Belgian pair do not play doubles the traditional way with both players at the net most of the time. Instead, Van Roost usually stays on the baseline, even after she serves.

"They do play a different style of game," Davenport acknowledged. "On this court though, I'm not sure how much an advantage it is to serve and stay back."

"I've been quite a few times here already, I love that show," Seles said. "Always, whenever I come, I go see it again."