Italy eases into another Fed Cup final
Source: Agencies |
April 26, 2010, Monday
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FED Cup holder Italy again showed its sum is greater than its parts after easily dismissing the Czech Republic and storming into another final.
World No. 15 Flavia Pennetta, who has never threatened in the individual grand slams, displayed her special attachment to the team competition by defeating Petra Kvitova 7-6 (3), 6-2 to give Italy an unassailable 3-0 lead in the semifinal yesterday.
Sara Errani later beat Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-2 to give the Italians a 4-0 lead.
Italy, with no great tennis tradition, lifted the Fed Cup in 2006 and 2009 and has now reached four finals in five years. Only a brave gambler would bet against it beating the United States or Russia in November's final.
"It's an incredible emotion. We are again in the final and all the team are euphoric," Pennetta said courtside after her second singles win on Rome's clay in two days.
The 60th-ranked Kvitova was a late substitute for the top Czech player, Lucie Safarova, who managed to win only two games against Francesca Schiavone on Saturday.
Pennetta, ranked 15, opened the series with a win over Hradecka.
In Birmingham, Alabama, Elena Dementieva and Melanie Oudin won their opening matches on Saturday to leave their semifinal tied at 1-1.
Oudin gave the hosts a perfect start when she recorded a 6-3, 6-3 win over Alla Kudryavtseva before Dementieva leveled the tie for the Russians at the indoor hardcourt, which kept the players away from the storms battering Alabama.
The Olympic champion, ranked sixth in the world, defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-3 to set the stage for a tense final day that will begin with her reverse singles rubber against Oudin.
World No. 15 Flavia Pennetta, who has never threatened in the individual grand slams, displayed her special attachment to the team competition by defeating Petra Kvitova 7-6 (3), 6-2 to give Italy an unassailable 3-0 lead in the semifinal yesterday.
Sara Errani later beat Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-2 to give the Italians a 4-0 lead.
Italy, with no great tennis tradition, lifted the Fed Cup in 2006 and 2009 and has now reached four finals in five years. Only a brave gambler would bet against it beating the United States or Russia in November's final.
"It's an incredible emotion. We are again in the final and all the team are euphoric," Pennetta said courtside after her second singles win on Rome's clay in two days.
The 60th-ranked Kvitova was a late substitute for the top Czech player, Lucie Safarova, who managed to win only two games against Francesca Schiavone on Saturday.
Pennetta, ranked 15, opened the series with a win over Hradecka.
In Birmingham, Alabama, Elena Dementieva and Melanie Oudin won their opening matches on Saturday to leave their semifinal tied at 1-1.
Oudin gave the hosts a perfect start when she recorded a 6-3, 6-3 win over Alla Kudryavtseva before Dementieva leveled the tie for the Russians at the indoor hardcourt, which kept the players away from the storms battering Alabama.
The Olympic champion, ranked sixth in the world, defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-3 to set the stage for a tense final day that will begin with her reverse singles rubber against Oudin.
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