Kim Clijsters celebrates with teammates (Getty Images)
In only the third time in the history of Fed Cup competition, the United States has been beaten in the first round of Fed Cup. Current Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters led the charge as Belgium took the tie 4-1 in the Quarterfinals of the World Group. Both Clijsters and Yanina Wickmayer won both of their singles rubbers. Bethanie Mattek-Sands put up some opposition in both of her singles matches, taking the first set from Clijsters and extending Wickmayer to 7-6 in the second set. American Melanie Oudin won a total of six games in two singles losses.
Belgium will host the Czech Republic in one of the Fed Cup semifinals during the weekend of April 16-17. Italy and Russia will face off in the other semifinal.
The US will join the other World Group first round losers, Australia, France, Slovak Republic and the four World Group II first round winners, Germany, Serbia, Spain and Ukraine in the World Group Play-offs April 16-17. Team match-ups will be determined by draw on Wednesday.
Final Results: Belgium defeated United States of America 4-1
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 61 76(6)
Kim Clijsters (BEL) defeated Melanie Oudin (USA) 60 64
Kim Clijsters (BEL) defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 67(10) 62 61
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) defeated Melanie Oudin (USA) 62 60
Liezel Huber/Vania King (USA) defeated Kirsten Flipkens/An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) 63 75
Fed Cup World Group and World Group II Results