Yanina Wickmayer

BELGRADE - Belgium secured its place in next year's Fed Cup World Group II after beating Serbia in their play-off tie 3-1 in Belgrade on Sunday.

Serbia are now relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group I.

Belgian Kirsten Flipkens brought Belgium back to World Group II following a hard fought 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 victory over Ivana Jorovic.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked third in the world, has qualified for the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Sunday, in Melbourne, after defeating by 6-4, 6-2 Belgian player Yanina Wickmayer.

Photo: (c) Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked third in the world, has qualified for the round of 16 of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Friday, in Melbourne, after defeating by 6-4, 7-5 American player Bettanie Mattek-Sands in the third round.

Photo credit: (c) Xu YANYAN / XINHUA

STANFORD - Serbia's Ana Ivanovic reached the second round of the Stanford WTA tournament early Wednesday by beating Sabine Lisicki of Germany 7-6 (6-2), 6-1.

The Serbian will next face Carol Zhao of Canada, who reached the second round after her opponent, Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, withdrew from the match in the second set due to injury.

The seventh edition of the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup, the most important women’s tennis tournament in Turkey, starts with the first round games July 14.