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  • KYIV, Ukraine -- Eugenie Bouchard is set to face Elina Svitolina once again. Bouchard, who recently cracked the top 100 in world rankings, will play Svitolina in the opening singles match of Canadas Federation Cup World Group II playoff tie this weekend with Ukraine. Her match is followed by Sharon Fichman of Toronto against Ukraines top singles player Lesia Tsurenko. The 19-year-old Bouchard whipped Svitolina 6-2, 6-2 on the grass court in the Wimbledon junior final last summer. It was the Westmount, Que., natives first major international triumph, and she added the doubles title for good measure. They have faced each other three times all together, with 18-year-old Svitolina taking their most recent encounter 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 on a hard court at Indian Wells in March. Now they will meet on a bumpy clay court in Canadas first Fed Cup meeting with Ukraine. "I have to play like I did in the Wimbledon final," Bouchard said on a conference call Friday. "Ive never played her on clay, so it will be a different match. "I have to be tough mentally. I know she can be up and down." The winner of the best-of-five series gets a spot in 2014 in World Group II, the second highest level of Fed Cup. Fichman will play Svitolina and Bouchard will face Tsurenko in singles on Sunday, followed by a doubles match pitting Fichman and Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa against Yuliya Beygelzimer and Kateryna Kozlova. The host country built a temporary, indoor clay court on what is usually a basketball court at the Sports Club Meridian. "Its difficult, lots of bad bounces," said Bouchard. Canadian team captain Sylvain Bruneau called it a small, intimate venue that should not be too intimidating for the visitors. "Its uneven, but I know it was the same for some of the Ukrainian girls," he said. "The court is fine. "Eugenie is good on clay and Fichman is better on clay." Bouchard followed up on her junior victory with an impressive first season as a full time pro. The righthander is coming off a trip to the quarter-finals of a tournament in Charleston in which she ousted top Briton Laura Robson and then posted a first win over a top-10 player in No. 9 Samatha Stosur before falling to 18th ranked Jelena Jankovic. Bouchard is ranked 93rd in the world, while Svitolina, who was the 2012 French Open junior champ, is 90th after some strong outings of her own. Fichman is ranked 125th in singles while Tsurenko is 71st. Substitute Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Que., is ranked 148th. Canadas top woman player, 67th ranked Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., is out with a shoulder injury. Wozniak is 29-8 in career singles Fed Cup matches. Canada plowed through American Zone 1 play at Medellin, Colombia, in February, beating Peru, Brazil, Venezuela and the host country to reach the World Group II playoffs. Dabrowski went 3-0 in doubles in her first Fed Cup action, including the decisive victory over Brazil while paired with Fichman. Canadas best Fed Cup performance was reaching the semifinals in 1988. They last played in World Group II in 2011. Other Group II playoffs have Poland at Belgium, Kazakhstan at France and Britain at Argentina. The World Group semifinals have the Czech Republic at Italy and Slovakia at Russia. www.vikingsjerseyssale.com/customized-yy-76/ . Gamble spent the previous eight seasons with the defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers, including the last two as director of player personnel. www.vikingsjerseyssale.com/cordarrelle-patterson-jersey-dc-82/ . Federer overcame wet and windy conditions on a temporary outdoor clay court in Amsterdam to beat De Bakker 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. "On the serve it can play tricks on you," Federer said of the gusty wind. "The ball, after you tossed it, it was moving away from you and you had to adjust the whole time. http://www.vikingsjerseyssale.com/jmarcus-webb-jersey-ph-47/ . James Andrews for a second opinion on the left elbow that has plagued him since he reported to spring training. www.vikingsjerseyssale.com/harrison-smith-jersey-nn-41/ . The 26-year-old Drazenovic has 16 goals and 45 points in 46 games for the Falcons this season. A native of Prince George, British Columbia, Drazenovic was originally signed by the Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2011, after spending four seasons with the St. www.vikingsjerseyssale.com/hats-ms-61/ .C. – Completely engulfed by the thunderous red of Alex Ovechkin and company, the Toronto Maple Leafs had no answers in the U.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Yankees catcher Russell Martin says home plate umpire Laz Diaz decided on an unusual way to punish him for arguing balls and strikes. Martin says Diaz wouldnt allow him to throw new baseballs back to his pitchers after fouls during New Yorks 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. Martin and Diaz got into it early in the game, and Martin says Diaz "was punishing me" by making all of the throws himself. Martin prefers to make the throws to keep his arm loose for base-stealers.dddddddddddd. Martin, who hails from Chelsea, Que., says Diaz told him that throwing the balls was "a privilege I had to earn." Martin was mystified by Diazs treatment. He is a three-time All-Star selection and a Gold Glove winner with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007. Diaz was unavailable for comment because Martin spoke nearly an hour after the game. ' ' '

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