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Belgium have one foot in Fed final
 Clijsters secured victory for Belgium despite not being on top form. OSTEND, Belgium -- Wins for Kim Clijsters and Kerstin Flipkens gave Belgium a commanding 2-0 lead over the United States in their Fed Cup semifinal. World number two Clijsters struggled past Jamea Jackson 4-6 6-2 6-1 after her compatriot, ranked 122nd, stirred the 5,000-strong crowd with an aggressive comeback against Jill Craybas. Flipkens, only drafted in after the withdrawal of world number three Justine Henin-Hardenne, defeated Craybas 5-7 6-2 6-4 in two hours 12 minutes. Like her team-mate, Clijsters also went a set down, before she showed some flashes of the form that made her U.S. Open champion and her opponent faded in a match just short of the two-hour mark. "It wasn't my best tennis, but we're 2-0 up now, which is the most important thing," said Clijsters. Flipkens said the win, her first on home soil in the Fed Cup, was one of the best of her career. "The crowd was a huge help, both in the positive moments and to pick me up," she said of the public in the port city of Ostend. The United States arrived a pale shadow of the team led by Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams that defeated an injury-hit Belgium 5-0 in the opening round last year. Facing a U.S. side without either Williams player, both out injured, Belgium had been firm favorites to record their first victory over the Americans until Henin-Hardenne declared on Wednesday she was too worn-out to play. Belgium knocked out champions Russia 3-2 in the opening round in April, albeit with both Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne. The U.S. side featured Jackson, ranked at only 67, and Craybas, world number 70, although both have claimed major scalps this year. Craybas beat Clijsters in Miami in April. Jackson defeated world number four Maria Sharapova to reach the final of the Birmingham Classic last month. Clijster's could settle the tie in the opening rubber on Sunday against Craybas before Flipkens's meeting with Jackson and the concluding doubles. Belgium have not beaten 17-times champions the United States in four attempts. The winners of the tie will play either Italy or Spain on September 16-17. Italy are 2-0 up after Saturday's play on clay in Zaragoza. 
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