Russia rallies to set up final against Italy in Fed Cup
Source: AFP |
April 23, 2013, Tuesday
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FOUR-TIME champion Russia became the first team to come back from 0-2 down in a Fed Cup semi-final to complete a 3-2 triumph over Slovakia on Sunday.
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina sealed the crucial point when they beat Dominika Cibulkova and Daniela Hantuchova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the deciding doubles.
Russia will now face Italy on November 2-3.
Roberta Vinci secured Italy's fifth Fed Cup final appearance in eight years yesterday after battling past Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic to give the host an unassailable lead on the red clay of Palermo.
Vinci's 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 win over Safarova handed Italy a 3-1 lead ahead of the dead doubles rubber.
Makarova was praised for her efforts after she played two three-set matches on Sunday having not featured at all on Saturday when Russia slipped 0-2.
"She's amazing. We were joking that she's like a soldier," Makarova's doubles partner Elena Vesnina said. "She has a bleeding knee and she won such an amazing match - one of the most emotional matches she has won. And then in the doubles, she was feeling tired, but she's a great fighter."
Earlier, Makarova had pulled Russia level at 2-2, beating world No. 75 Hantuchova in a tough three-setter 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to record her first ever win over the Slovak veteran.
Serena and Venus Williams delivered singles victories to lift the United States to a playoff victory over Sweden that will keep America in the elite World Group.
Venus persevered to deliver the clinching point, sealing a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Johanna Larsson.
World No. 1 Serena Williams had put the Americans on track on Saturday with a win over Larsson, and she put the 17-time champion United States up 2-1 with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Arvidsson on Sunday.
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina sealed the crucial point when they beat Dominika Cibulkova and Daniela Hantuchova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the deciding doubles.
Russia will now face Italy on November 2-3.
Roberta Vinci secured Italy's fifth Fed Cup final appearance in eight years yesterday after battling past Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic to give the host an unassailable lead on the red clay of Palermo.
Vinci's 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 win over Safarova handed Italy a 3-1 lead ahead of the dead doubles rubber.
Makarova was praised for her efforts after she played two three-set matches on Sunday having not featured at all on Saturday when Russia slipped 0-2.
"She's amazing. We were joking that she's like a soldier," Makarova's doubles partner Elena Vesnina said. "She has a bleeding knee and she won such an amazing match - one of the most emotional matches she has won. And then in the doubles, she was feeling tired, but she's a great fighter."
Earlier, Makarova had pulled Russia level at 2-2, beating world No. 75 Hantuchova in a tough three-setter 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to record her first ever win over the Slovak veteran.
Serena and Venus Williams delivered singles victories to lift the United States to a playoff victory over Sweden that will keep America in the elite World Group.
Venus persevered to deliver the clinching point, sealing a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Johanna Larsson.
World No. 1 Serena Williams had put the Americans on track on Saturday with a win over Larsson, and she put the 17-time champion United States up 2-1 with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Arvidsson on Sunday.
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