Russia takes its third Fed Cup
September 16, 2007
Russia scored its third Fed Cup victory in the last four years when Svetlana Kuznetsova saved two match points and fought back to defeat Francesca Schiavone 46 76 75 to give Russia a winning 3-0 lead.
In a pulsating two hour, 48 minute battle, Kuznetsova refused to give in and bravely saved two match points in the second set tiebreak. The Russian then found herself 1-4 down in the third set but in a repeat of Saturday’s singles, Schiavone was unable to finish the match off. Kuznetsova won four games in a row and after a tense finish, it was the Russian who finally prevailed.
“I didn’t play as well as Saturday but I could pull it out because of my strong will,” a delighted Kuznetsova said afterwards. “I had a problem with my abdominals, I couldn’t serve 100% as I didn’t want to make it worse.”
With Russia leading 2-0 overnight, it was vital for Italy to strike the first blow on the second day and that is exactly what happened as Schiavone broke in theng game. A tumble at the end of the first game, followed by a snapped shoelace and an enforced change of shoes did not seem to unsettle Kuznetsova however as she took the next three games, breaking the Italian twice.
Suddenly, and not for the last time during this match, the momentum changed as Schiavone picked up her level and Kuznetsova inexplicably lost hers. The Italian swept the next four games and held her nerve to serve out the first set.
The pair again traded early breaks at the start of the second set but then Schiavone broke in the seventh game, and soon found herself serving for victory at 5-4. Right from the moment where she put her first forehand wide there was a certain inevitability hanging over the tenth game and soon enough, the Russian had broken back. Both players held comfortably and the second set headed into a tiebreak.
Kuznetsova got the first mini-break in the tiebreak but Schiavone roared back and set up a matchpoint opportunity at 6-5 on Kuznetsova’s serve, which was saved with a powerful forehand by the Russian. The Italian then had match point on her own serve but couldn’t convert and it was Kuznetsova who emerged triumphant, taking the tiebreak 9-7 and levelling the match.
The third set began with a noticeable increase in the level of play as winners began to outnumber errors. Schiavone received treatment to both thighs at the first changeover and this seemed to revitalise her. She got the first break of the set and led 4-1, conceding just two points in her first three service games. But in Schiavone’s next service game, the momentum swung again and Kuznetsova broke back, Schiavone losing the game on a point that will probably give her nightmares: the Italian somehow managed to put an easy ball out over the baseline with the court at her disposal.
“I served worse at 4-1, there was a lot of pressure from Svetlana. She played those points very well and it was very close afterwards,” said Schiavone.
Kuznetsova drew level and broke again to lead 5-4. Just when the Russian got into a winning position, the enormity of the occasion seemed to strike and in a tension-filled finale, neither player seemed capable of winning the match. Then at 0-30 while serving for the match for a second time at 6-5, Kuznetsova strung together four points and amid mounting hysteria in the Luzhniki stadium, jumped for joy as she clinched the tie for Russia. She was quickly joined on court by her teammates and their practice partner for this week Maria Sharapova.
Explaining the difference between her two matches, Kuznetsova said, “Francesca is better suited to this court. She plays differently and caused me many problems, forcing me to play much longer rallies.”
The Italians’ reign was over but a disappointed Schiavone added, “ I enjoyed today’s match a lot. I was very focused and played a very good match.”
In the fourth singles match, Elena Vesnina played Mara Santangelo in what was a dead rubber. The Russian was far more motivated than the Italian, defeating her comfortably 62 64 in a very one sided affair. The doubles match was cancelled so the final score will read Russia 4, Italy 0.
Looking ahead, Kuznetsova said, “as long as we stay as a team, we’re gonna be very strong.”
Russia now has the rare opportunity of holding both the Davis Cup and Fed Cup at the same time and will continue the defence of its Davis Cup title here in Moscow, at the Olympic Stadium, with a semifinal against Germany next weekend.