Kuznetsova ties it for Russia
Source: Agencies |
November 6, 2011, Sunday
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RUSSIA and the Czech Republic split the opening singles in the Fed Cup final yesterday after grand slam winners Petra Kvitova and Svetlana Kuznetsova won their matches in straight sets.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova put the Czechs in the lead, beating Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-2 in the first match, but Kuznetsova then leveled the tie at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Lucie Safarova.
The title will be decided today with two reverse singles and a doubles match at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
Two-time grand slam champion Kuznetsova broke Safarova twice in the first set and was leading 5-3 in the second when she clinched the victory on Safarova's serve with a backhand return on her first match point.
After even play in the first four games, Kvitova dominated Kirilenko with powerful shots from the baseline and frequent volley winners.
"It was much tougher to win today and I lost much more energy then it may appear looking at the scoreline," Kvitova said.
Kvitova won six consecutive games to take a set and 2-0 lead. Kvitova broke again in the seventh game of the second set and served the match out with an ace.
Kvitova was drawn to play Kuznetsova in the second reverse singles today, but the nomination is subject to change ahead of the match.
"In the Fed Cup you never know who will oppose you in the reverse singles, but I've won already and do not feel any pressure on my back," Kvitova said.
The victory was Kvitova's 11th straight, following her back-to-back titles in Linz, Austria, and at the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul.
Russia has won the Fed Cup title four times in five years since 2004 and is unbeaten at home in 10 ties since losing to France in the semifinals in 2003. The Czechs are five-time winners, but their last final appearance was in 1988 when, as Czechoslovakia, they beat the Soviet Union 2-1.
In Bali, Indonesia, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia will play Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in today's final of the WTA Tournament of Champions.
Defending champion Ivanovic defeated Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-1, 7-5 in the first semifinal yesterday to reach her first final since winning the title a year ago. Medina Garrigues was leading 6-3, 4-6, 4-0 against Sabine Lisicki when the third-seeded German retired with a back injury.
Medina Garrigues reached the semifinals when Marion Bartoli of France pulled out of their quarterfinal match with the Spanish player leading 4-6, 7-6 (7), 1-0.
"I didn't have too many retirements in my career and now I have two in a row," Medina Garrigues, 29, said. "I feel bad for Sabine."
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova put the Czechs in the lead, beating Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-2 in the first match, but Kuznetsova then leveled the tie at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Lucie Safarova.
The title will be decided today with two reverse singles and a doubles match at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow.
Two-time grand slam champion Kuznetsova broke Safarova twice in the first set and was leading 5-3 in the second when she clinched the victory on Safarova's serve with a backhand return on her first match point.
After even play in the first four games, Kvitova dominated Kirilenko with powerful shots from the baseline and frequent volley winners.
"It was much tougher to win today and I lost much more energy then it may appear looking at the scoreline," Kvitova said.
Kvitova won six consecutive games to take a set and 2-0 lead. Kvitova broke again in the seventh game of the second set and served the match out with an ace.
Kvitova was drawn to play Kuznetsova in the second reverse singles today, but the nomination is subject to change ahead of the match.
"In the Fed Cup you never know who will oppose you in the reverse singles, but I've won already and do not feel any pressure on my back," Kvitova said.
The victory was Kvitova's 11th straight, following her back-to-back titles in Linz, Austria, and at the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul.
Russia has won the Fed Cup title four times in five years since 2004 and is unbeaten at home in 10 ties since losing to France in the semifinals in 2003. The Czechs are five-time winners, but their last final appearance was in 1988 when, as Czechoslovakia, they beat the Soviet Union 2-1.
In Bali, Indonesia, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia will play Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in today's final of the WTA Tournament of Champions.
Defending champion Ivanovic defeated Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-1, 7-5 in the first semifinal yesterday to reach her first final since winning the title a year ago. Medina Garrigues was leading 6-3, 4-6, 4-0 against Sabine Lisicki when the third-seeded German retired with a back injury.
Medina Garrigues reached the semifinals when Marion Bartoli of France pulled out of their quarterfinal match with the Spanish player leading 4-6, 7-6 (7), 1-0.
"I didn't have too many retirements in my career and now I have two in a row," Medina Garrigues, 29, said. "I feel bad for Sabine."
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