THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON -- Defending champion Russia, Italy and the Czech Republic advanced to the semifinals of the Fed Cup on Sunday, all completing their wins in reverse singles. Russia, which has won four of the last five Fed Cup titles, routed China 5-0 with Anna Chakvetadze and Alisa Kleybanova both winning before the doubles team of Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova finished it off on indoor hard courts in Moscow. Italy eliminated France, taking an unbeatable lead when Flavia Pennetta defeated a crying Alize Cornet, and the Czechs knocked out 2008 runner-up Spain 4-1. Later Sunday, the United States was to play Argentina in Surprise, Ariz., with the score in the best-of-five series even at 1-1. Chakvetadze played the first reverse singles match in place of Dementieva and improved her Fed Cup record to 7-2 by beating Yan Zi of China 6-1, 6-2. "I was a bit nervous because it was very important for me today to win, to support my teammates' success on Saturday," Chakvetadze said. "And I also had problems with my serve." Kleybanova, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, defeated Sun Tiantian 6-1, 6-1, and Dementieva and Kuznetsova teamed to beat Yan and Sun 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. In the semifinals, set for April 25-26, the Russians will face Italy. Cornet, a 19-year-old Frenchwoman who is ranked No. 14 by the WTA Tour, broke down crying in the second set of her loss to Pennetta when a ball that landed beyond the baseline was not called out. Pennetta won 6-2, 6-2. In the second reverse singles match on indoor hard courts in Orleans, France, Sara Errani defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo 6-3, 6-4. The Czechs won all three matches Sunday on indoor carpet in Brno, with Lucie Safarova beating Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 6-3, Petra Kvitova defeating Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4, 7-5, and Iveta Benesova and Kveta Peschke teaming to beat Lourdes Dominguez-Lino and Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-4, 6-2.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Three nations reach Fed Cup semis
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON -- Defending champion Russia, Italy and the Czech Republic advanced to the semifinals of the Fed Cup on Sunday, all completing their wins in reverse singles. Russia, which has won four of the last five Fed Cup titles, routed China 5-0 with Anna Chakvetadze and Alisa Kleybanova both winning before the doubles team of Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova finished it off on indoor hard courts in Moscow. Italy eliminated France, taking an unbeatable lead when Flavia Pennetta defeated a crying Alize Cornet, and the Czechs knocked out 2008 runner-up Spain 4-1. Later Sunday, the United States was to play Argentina in Surprise, Ariz., with the score in the best-of-five series even at 1-1. Chakvetadze played the first reverse singles match in place of Dementieva and improved her Fed Cup record to 7-2 by beating Yan Zi of China 6-1, 6-2. "I was a bit nervous because it was very important for me today to win, to support my teammates' success on Saturday," Chakvetadze said. "And I also had problems with my serve." Kleybanova, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, defeated Sun Tiantian 6-1, 6-1, and Dementieva and Kuznetsova teamed to beat Yan and Sun 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. In the semifinals, set for April 25-26, the Russians will face Italy. Cornet, a 19-year-old Frenchwoman who is ranked No. 14 by the WTA Tour, broke down crying in the second set of her loss to Pennetta when a ball that landed beyond the baseline was not called out. Pennetta won 6-2, 6-2. In the second reverse singles match on indoor hard courts in Orleans, France, Sara Errani defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo 6-3, 6-4. The Czechs won all three matches Sunday on indoor carpet in Brno, with Lucie Safarova beating Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 6-3, Petra Kvitova defeating Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4, 7-5, and Iveta Benesova and Kveta Peschke teaming to beat Lourdes Dominguez-Lino and Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-4, 6-2.
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