On Friday, the Canadian Miele Fed Cup team qualified for Saturday’s final with a 2-1 victory over Brazil in the Fed Cup by BNP Paris Americas Zone Group 1 showdown in Lamabare, Paraguay.  

Despite the difficult clay court conditions at the Yacht y Golf Club Paraguayo since the beginning of the tournament, the Canadians won two of the day’s three matches, consolidating their place at the head of Group A and earning a spot in the final. Sharon Fichman of Toronto gave Canada the lead with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Anna-Clara Duarte.

But Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Québec, could not manage to gain the upper hand over tough rival Maria-Fernanda Alves of Brazil, who took the lead in the second set and went on to triumph 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The winner was therefore decided in doubles, as Fichman and Marie-Ève Pelletier of Repentigny, Québec, overcame Alves and Duarte (6-2, 6-1).

Saturday, the Canadian Miele Fed Cup team will compete for the grand prize: a spot in the qualifying round of the World Group II against Colombia, which finished first in Group B. The matches are set to begin tomorrow at noon, EST

During Tuesday’s draw ceremony, the participating nations were divided into two groups (four nations in Group A, four nations in Group B) for round-robin action. The winners of each group will then face off for the chance to take part in the World Group II qualifying round in April 2010. The two lowest ranking teams will be sent to Group II of the Americas Zone in 2011. Visit www.fedcup.com for all of the latest results from the other ties.