Tennis news
Spanish federation to sue French TV for Nadal skit
MADRID (AP)—The Spanish tennis federation says it plans to sue Canal Plus France for using its logo in a video that poked fun at Rafael Nadal.In the video skit on Les Guignols (The Puppets) satirical program, a life-size cartoon figure of Nadal is shown urinating into a gas tank before racing off and being pulled over by traffic police for speeding.A message of “Spanish athletes. They don’t win by chance” flashes across the screen, surrounded by the logos of the tennis federation and other Spanish sports groups.The video came hours after the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a two-year ban against Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador for doping. [more]
Kohlschreiber pulls out of Davis Cup with illness
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)—Philipp Kohlschreiber has pulled out of Germany’s Davis Cup match against Argentina this weekend because of illness.The German tennis federation says Kohlschreiber has a stomach flu and won’t be able to play in the best-of-five series in Bamberg. Kohlschreiber is ranked No. 31 and is Germany’s No. 2 player after Florian Mayer at No. 21.Kohlschreiber’s absence could mean that veteran Tommy Haas gets the chance to play singles.Captain Patrik Kuehnen still has not said who will replace Kohlschreiber. [more]
Mattek-Sands hits 10 aces to beat Barrois in Paris
PARIS (AP)—American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands finished off Kristina Barrois of Germany with her 10th ace Wednesday to secure a 7-6 (3), 6-2 win and reach the second round of the Open GDF Suez.Barrois rallied from a 4-1 deficit to force a first-set tiebreaker. But Mattek-Sands won six straight points to take the first set before breaking Barrois twice in the second.Roberta Vinci of Italy, Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic and Monica Niculescu of Romania also advanced.The seventh-seeded Vinci beat Simona Halep of Romania 6-4, 6-4.Niculescu outlasted Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in an erratic match that saw 14 service breaks.Zakopalova cruised past French wild card Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-1 by winning eight straight games to take the first set and a 5-0 lead in the second. [more]
Sanchez Vicario says million in earnings gone
MADRID (AP)—Tennis great Arantxa Sanchez Vicario accuses the parents she is estranged from for losing the estimated million she earned in her career through poor management.The 40-year-old Sanchez Vicario let loose against her whole family in a book of memoirs published on Tuesday. She says she does not speak to her parents or her three siblings.She says her parents were obsessed with her succeeding in a career which netted four Grand Slam singles titles, and even tried to interfere in her love life.Sanchez Vicario’s mother, Marisa, responded in an open letter to Spanish media that she and her husband Emilio were devastated by their daughter’s accusations that they mismanaged her tournament winnings and endorsement money disastrously. [more]
Zvonareva advances to Pattaya quarterfinals
PATTAYA, Thailand (AP)—Vera Zvonareva of Russia easily advanced to the quarterfinals of the Pattaya Open on Wednesday with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan.Zvonareva is looking for her third Pattaya title and led 5-2 in the second set before being broken when she tried to serve out the match. However, she broke right back to clinch the victory.The eighth-ranked Zvonareva will play Sorana Cirstea of Romania, who beat Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-2 6-2.Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn also advanced after saving three set points in the first-set tiebreaker to beat Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan 7-6 (7) 6-3. [more]
Djokovic wants French title and Olympic gold
Novak Djokovic says that he would like to win both Roland Garros and the Olympic gold medal this summer. "Why not both?" the Serbian said after winning the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award.Djokovic, who led Serbia to its first Davis Cup triumph in 2010, has won the Australian Open three times and Wimbledon and the U.S. Open once each. He has yet to reach the final of Roland Garros. Djokovic won the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The last player to win all four majors and an Olympic gold was Steffi Graf, who won the Golden Slam in 1988. The London Olympics begin three weeks after Wimbledon."I've learned how to handle my schedule, how to handle myself on and off the court and to prepare for the biggest events. That is going to be the case this year," Djokovic said. "I will try to set up my form for Roland Garros first of all, where I want to get the title and go all the way through, and then I'll start thinking about Wimbledon and the Olympics." [more]
Li Na retires from Paris opener with sore back
PARIS (AP)—French Open champion Li Na retired with a sore back against Tsvetana Pironkova in the second set of her opening match Tuesday at the Open GDF Suez. Third-seeded Li took a medical timeout while trailing 7-6 (5), 3-2 to have her lower back massaged and played a few more points before retiring.“It was so painful,” Li said. “That’s why I called the physio to come to the court. I tried to tape and then tried to play the point, but it didn’t work. I’ll go to the hospital to take an MRI to see what happened.” Fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic withdrew Tuesday because of a left thigh strain she picked up in Serbia’s 3-2 win over Belgium in the Fed Cup last week. “I was playing against (Kirsten) Flipkens and during one point in the second set, I felt a really sharp pain, but I managed to finish the match,” Jankovic said. Li rallied from a 5-0 deficit to force a tiebreaker but she double-faulted at 3-2 to give Pironkova a mini-break. The unseeded Bulgarian won the first set on a forehand error from Li before taking a 3-1 lead in the second. “I played last week in the Fed Cup in Israel, I played some good matches which helped for my form and for my confidence,” Pironkova said. “So I felt pretty good coming here, and I’m glad I could show it on the court today against such a world-class player.” Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic and Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa also advanced to the second round along with three German players—Julia Goerges, Angelique Kerber and Mona Barthel. Goerges cruised past Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-3. Kerber beat Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 7-6 (3). The U.S. Open semifinalist won five straight points to lead 5-1 in the tiebreaker, clinching victory when Safarova’s backhand return sailed long. Barthel eased past Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2. Cetkovska defeated Italian lucky loser Alberta Brianti 6-3, 6-3, and Scheepers ousted Polona Hercog of Slovenia 6-2, 6-2. [more]
Federer recalls emotional 2001 Davis Cup win
FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP)—Roger Federer hopes to recapture the emotion of Switzerland’s 2001 Davis Cup victory against the United States when they meet again in the first round this weekend.Federer recalled the Swiss win on Tuesday, when as a 19-year-old he won three matches for a 3-2 victory in his home city of Basel.“I think it was my first emotional outburst on a tennis court because I was so exhausted on Sunday after winning singles, doubles and singles,” Federer said.Federer said that performance, against a U.S. team led by Todd Martin, “definitely got me in winning ways.” Months later at Wimbledon, he beat four-time defending champion Pete Sampras in the fourth round.“It was a start of great things for me and I’m happy playing America again,” said the 30-year-old Federer, who will line up in Friday’s singles with Stanislas Wawrinka against Mardy Fish and John Isner.Federer owns a record 16 Grand Slam singles titles, but he hasn’t won the Davis Cup trophy.Federer’s skipped the first round of the Davis Cup since 2004, and changed his preparations to play Davis Cup this year.He hasn’t played on clay so early in the season since 2004 in Romania, and it’s been seven years since he played in Europe in February.On a cold, 20-degree day in Fribourg, it was perhaps easy to understand his previous schedule. He typically practices after the Australian Open and plays a single tournament in Dubai, where he has a home.But Federer renewed his Davis Cup commitment by traveling to Australia last September for a World Group playoff that Wawrinka helped clinch. The five-set win over Lleyton Hewitt was halted in the Sunday twilight and completed Monday.“It’s only normal for me to play the first round after that heroic effort of his,” Federer said.The third-ranked Swiss said he’s in “a good state mentally and physically” after his semifinal loss to Rafael Nadal in Melbourne.“I’ve had a great run since last year’s U.S. Open and haven’t lost until just the other week,” he said. “The transition to clay has been somewhat easy. Clay is good on the body.”Federer helped choose the slow indoor surface, a perceived weakness of the American team.“It’s the best surface to play the United States, and we think it will be a small advantage for us,” Switzerland captain Severin Luethi said. [more]
Zvonareva, King win Pattaya City openers
PATTAYA, Thailand (AP)—Vera Zvonareva began her quest for a third Pattaya Open title by putting away local qualifier Varatchaya Wongteanchai 6-2, 7-5 on Tuesday.The only bother for top-seeded Zvonareva was when she faced three break points at 5-5, 0-40, but summoned powerful serves to get off the hook and win the last two games.“The first match is always tough,” said Zvonareva, the 2009 and 2010 champion. “I didn’t play my game but I always came up with better shots when I needed them.”The Australian Open doubles winner moved on to meet Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan, who beat Laura Robson when the Brit retired 5-2 down.Eighth-seeded Vania King of the United States tamed Heather Watson of Britain 6-4, 6-2, but No. 6 Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan retired sick while trailing Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3, 4-2.Also, Misaki Doi of Japan beat wild card Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-1, 6-3, Alla Kudryavsteva of Russia beat qualifier Zhou Yi-Miao of China 6-1, 7-5, and qualifier Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan downed Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 7-5, 6-1. [more]
Hewitt in double duty for Australia versus China
GEELONG, Australia (AP)—Former U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt has been selected to play Davis Cup singles and doubles against China this weekend, equaling an Australian record by making his 32nd appearance in the international competition.Australia captain Pat Rafter announced his combination Tuesday for the Asia-Oceania Group 1 match, with Hewitt and Bernard Tomic to play singles and Hewitt to combine with Chris Guccione in doubles at the Geelong Lawn Tennis Club.Hewitt will tie the mark set by Todd Woodbridge.Hewitt fell out of the top 100 after an injury-plagued 2011, but his run to the fourth round at the Australian Open—where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic—was enough to convince Rafter that he’ll be as competitive. [more]
Djokovic wins Laureus World Sportsman of Year
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Monfils questionable for Davis Cup vs. Canada
Gael Monfils is questionable for France's upcoming Davis Cup clash against Canada in Vancouver, as he is struggling with a knee injury. On Sunday, No. 13 Monfils fell to Tomas Berdych in the final of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier. "I was unsure [Saturday] evening [whether to play] because my knee had swollen," Monfils told reporters. "I waited until after warming up in the morning to decide. I'm going to undergo a little examination before heading for Canada because this knee is ruining my life and I don't want to take any risks for the rest of the season. I don't want to be a burden on the France team. I'm ready for anything, including just playing the final day." Other French players on the team include Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Michael Llodra, and Julien Benneteau. Gilles Simon could be called in as a replacement for Monfils. Milos Raonic leads Canada. [more]
Venus is unsure when she can play again
Venus Williams is unsure of when she will be able to play again and how much she will be able to compete. On Sunday, Williams played her first match since the U.S. Open, partnering Liezel Huber in a Fed Cup doubles victory (dead rubber) against Belarus. The 31-year-old Williams is contending with Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease."I'm not sure what my plans are," Williams told reporters. "Honestly, I'm going to play next week in terms of going home and start training, really try to hone in on my singles game, see how I'm covering the court, that kind of thing. For me it's kind of week by week, just see what happens. I try not to put pressure on myself, even though I do. I mean, if I could, I would have played [the Australian Open]. But as soon as I can. I'm still fighting fatigue. I'm getting better. It just takes a while to kind of find the right medicines that work, to get stronger. Once you do have a chance to get on the court, it takes at least six weeks to build a nice baseline so you just don't get hurt."Williams, who is currently ranked No. 133 in singles and no longer has a doubles ranking, says that her main focus will be to try and qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London. In order to automatically qualify for the Olympic singles, she needs to raise her ranking into the Top 48 by the end of Roland Garros. She also might ask for a wild card into doubles with her sister Serena, as they are the defending gold medal champions."The big push for me is the Olympics this year, so I can get back on the court and get my ranking up," Venus said. "If I'm healthy, I'm not worried about my ranking. I think I can hit the ball. It's just about my body cooperating. It's about being able to play matches in a row. Right now I'm not sure how much I can do with that, but we'll see....It's definitely a real-life experience for sure. My life is going to be different, but I'm glad to know what's wrong with me so I can get better." [more]
Kleybanova recovering, resumes training
Alisa Kleybanova has finished her chemotherapy and has begun off-court training. The former world No. 20 still has to pass one more major medical test before she is allowed to resume on-court training. In the summer of 2011, Kleybanova revealed that she was suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma. The 22-year-old told TENNIS.com that if she does pass the test, she plans on coming to the United States to train in warm weather.—Matt Cronin [more]
Sharapova sets sights on London Olympics
PARIS (AP)—Maria Sharapova is making the London Olympics one of her top priorities this year after missing the Beijing Games with an injury. The third-ranked Russian has won three Grand Slam titles but has never competed at the Olympics.“Representing my country there will be a huge honor for me,” Sharapova said. “I’m really looking forward to the grass season. Wimbledon is a big goal every single year. And obviously, two weeks later coming into the Olympics, which I’ve never been a part of in my career—something that I’ve wanted to do and be a part of since I was a young kid. In Russia, as an athlete, that was the biggest dream, the biggest goal.” Sharapova missed the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of a shoulder injury. Despite losing 6-3, 6-0 to Victoria Azarenka last month in a lopsided Grand Slam final, Sharapova hopes her Australian Open campaign can still be a springboard for winning another major title this year. “I didn’t play competitively for a few months, and coming in with an injury in the ankle, to have that result in Australia was personally quite big,” Sharapova said. Sharapova hurt her left ankle in September at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo. The injury forced her to withdraw from the China Open and later the WTA Championships in Istanbul after two losses. “Getting to the final is a step forward toward where I want to get,” Sharapova said. “Obviously, you want to be the one holding the trophy, but it doesn’t always work out that way. “A little luck at times and eventually belief, and it happens. It doesn’t come at once, it takes a lot of time and development. As far as this year, I still have many opportunities to hopefully achieve that.” She is competing in the Open GDF Suez for the first time this week. [more]
Lisicki, Kanepi withdraw from Open GDF Suez
PARIS (AP)—Sabine Lisicki of Germany and Kaia Kanepi of Estonia withdrew Monday from the Open GDF Suez.Lisicki has a viral illness and Kanepi is recovering from a right shoulder injury.Kanepi won the Brisbane International last month before losing in the second round of the Australian Open.Lisicki was seeded fifth at the Parisian tournament. She lost her singles matches last weekend in Germany's 4-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup.As a result of the two withdrawals, Varvara Lepchenko of the U.S. and Alberta Brianti of Italy gain spots in the main draw as lucky losers. [more]
Serena clinches tie for U.S.; Venus wins in doubles
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP)—Venus Williams returned from a five-month layoff and Serena Williams and Christina McHale won singles matches Sunday, sending the United States past Belarus 5-0 in the first round of the Fed Cup. By blanking Belarus in World Group II, the Americans head to a playoff in April in hopes of playing their way back into the top tier of Fed Cup after getting bounced last year. Venus Williams and Liezel Huber completed the shutout with a doubles victory, defeating Darya Kustova and Anastasiya Yakimova 6-1, 6-2. This was Williams’ first sanctioned match since the opening round of the U.S. Open. She had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and joint pain and forced her to withdraw from the Open.McHale won in straight sets for the second consecutive day, beating Darya Kustova 6-0, 6-1 to put the U.S. up 4-0. Serena Williams had already guaranteed a U.S. victory earlier in the day by defeating Anastasiya Yakimova 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. Serena blew a 4-1 lead in the opening set and slammed her racket on the court after one point, then returned to form in the next two sets. She didn’t allow a point in two straight games of the final set, which she closed with an overhead slam. “That just goes to show you how frustrate I was out there today,” she said. “I haven’t done that in a match in a long time.” Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the Australian Open champion, sat out all four singles matches with a back injury. Venus Williams’ victory almost overshadowed the team victory, which the U.S. players celebrated with a quick parade around the court with the American flag. In the first round of World Group play, Russia beat visiting Spain 3-2; Serbia won 3-2 at Belgium; Italy downed visiting Ukraine 3-2; and the Czech Republic won 4-1 at Germany. Although a U.S. victory was assured after the first singles, most of the 2,279 fans at Worcester’s DCU Center stuck around through another round of singles to see Venus play. It was barely two hours before Super Bowl kickoff and for those fans, Venus’ comeback trumped seeing the start of the New England Patriots’ game against the New York Giants. Fans crowded the entrance to snap photos as she strolled onto the court. One fan shouted, “Welcome back, Venus!” after warmups. That was followed by a loud round of applause and some foot-stomping when she and Huber returned from the bench to open the match. Williams served first and after hitting her first attempt long, she delivered a winner on her second to start her comeback with a 15-0 lead. Williams faltered briefly the next time she served, falling behind love-40 then rallied with Huber to win the next four points then clinching the game with an ace. Belarus won the first two games of the second set, then Williams and Huber reeled off six straight, ending it with Williams holding serve. [more]
Monaco tops compatriot Berlocq for fourth title
VINA DEL MAR, Chile (AP)—Juan Monaco beat Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-1 in an all-Argentina final at the Vina del Mar VTR Open on Sunday for his fourth ATP title.The top-seeded Monaco claimed his first title since winning three in 2007— and all have come on clay. The victory marked a breakthrough for the 27-year-old Monaco, who lost in the final at this tournament in 2008 and 2010.“The third time is lucky they say, so this time it’s true,” he said.It was the first ATP final for Berlocq, who advanced after defeating second-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela, another Argentine.Monaco started well and led 4-1 before going on to win the first set. He led 4-2 in the second and seemed headed for victory before Berlocq evened the match and won the tiebreak. Monaco returned to form in the third set and broke Berlocq twice.Berlocq, who turned 29 on Friday, dropped only one set during the week.The Chilean tournament is the start of a monthlong clay court swing across Latin America, with other events upcoming in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. [more]
Italy edges Ukraine 3-2 in Fed Cup quarterfinal
BIELLA, Italy (AP)—Flavia Pennetta shook off a sore back and paired with Roberta Vinci to secure the decisive doubles point for Italy in a 3-2 win over Ukraine on Sunday that put the country in the Fed Cup semifinals. Pennetta missed the singles matches but looked sharp in a 7-5, 0-6, 6-1 win over Lesia Tsurenko and Olga Savchuk.Italy next faces the Czech Republic in the April 21-22 semifinals. Earlier Sunday, former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone rallied to beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4, but Sara Errani retired midway through her match with Tsurenko to leave it tied at 2. Italy won the Fed Cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010. [more]
Serbia takes doubles point to eliminate Belgium
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Serena has plenty of Olympic mixed options
Serena Williams says she has numerous options for her mixed doubles partner at the Olympics. "A girl loves to have choices," she told reporters at Fed Cup. "Obviously the Bryans are like the world's best doubles players. Andy [Roddick] and I are super, super close. Personally I love John [Isner]. You're not going to break the guy. It's an automatic I-don't-know-how-many games. I think it's so hard to choose. I don't know if you just throw everyone's name in a hat and figure out what happens next. Regardless, we want to do really well and take home a medal for the country. That's what it's all about." [more]
Youzhny defeats Lacko in Zagreb final
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Kvitova tops Lisicki; Czechs in final four
addCustomPlayer('1jn4sdpn5kg7k1m95yrrnt1mla', '497fc0d7-4dbe-4051-8316-d6f318d408d2', '1d7clakm2bj471up8f0cmolxol', 620, 540, 'perf1jn4sdpn5kg7k1m95yrrnt1mla-1d7clakm2bj471up8f0cmolxol', 'eplayer4');STUTTGART, Germany (AP)—Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova rallied to beat Germany’s Sabine Lisicki and send defending champion Czech Republic into the semifinals of the Fed Cup after giving her country an insurmountable lead in the first round on Sunday.Angelique Kerber later beat Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-4 to salvage some pride for the hosts with the 24-year-old German’s first Fed Cup win.But Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova reaffirmed Czech dominance in the final game of the best-of-five series with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Julia Georges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld in the doubles.“We were a little unlucky to play the defending champs in the first round. It could have been the final, easily,” Lisicki said.Lisicki took the first set on a tie break, 7-6 (2), but No. 2-ranked Kvitova came from behind for the second time in two days to claim the second 6-4 before seeing out the decisive set 6-1.The No. 14-ranked Lisicki had won their only previous encounter in 2009, but the 22-year-old seemed to allow the pressure get to her in the second set when Kvitova turned the screw.“I had trouble with my return in the beginning, and it took a long time before I knew what to do—it was in the middle of the second set. Anyway, I’m happy that I got it,” the 21-year-old Kvitova said.Kvitova, who is on a 27-0 run indoors, had already prevailed over Julia Goerges after a long battle on Saturday, when Iveta Benesova also came from behind to beat Lisicki.“I don’t know what the key is to playing indoor, but I’m very comfortable playing indoor,” Kvitova said.It was the Czechs’ sixth win in seven meetings between the countries and they will next play Ukraine or Italy on April 21-22.Germany goes into a playoff to stay in the eight-nation World Group.“We have such a good team,” Lisicki said. “We’re really looking forward to playing again in April, and hopefully with a complete team.”Germany’s top player, 10th-ranked Andrea Petkovic, had been ruled out with a lower back injury. [more]
Kuznetsova sends Russia into semis
addCustomPlayer('1jn4sdpn5kg7k1m95yrrnt1mla', '497fc0d7-4dbe-4051-8316-d6f318d408d2', 't61q1v75n5oi1f7km4euuxysl', 620, 540, 'perf1jn4sdpn5kg7k1m95yrrnt1mla-t61q1v75n5oi1f7km4euuxysl', 'eplayer4');MOSCOW (AP)—Russia advanced to the Fed Cup World Group semifinals with a 3-2 win over Spain in the first-round series on Sunday.Svetlana Kuznetsova secured the host an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Spain, beating Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second reverse singles.Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova easily won their opening singles on Saturday, but Carla Suarez Navarro narrowed the gap, routing Nadia Petrova 6-0, 6-3 in the first reverse singles on a hardcourt at the Olympic indoor stadium.The Spanish pair of Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja set the final score at 3-2 for Russia when, a set down, the Russian duo of Kuznetsova and Petrova retired in the doubles match because of Kuznetsova’s fatigue.Russia will host either Belgium or Serbia in the semifinals on April 21-22.Kuznetsova won four consecutive games in the first set and continued with three more in the second.But she then lost concentration and Soler-Espinosa won the rest of the games in the second set to stay in the match. The Russian two-time major winner continued to struggle in the third set before Kuznetsova finally broke the Spaniard in the eighth game and served the match out.Kuznetsova said that support from the home crowd helped to win.“At such tough moments when you feel bad … nothing is going on on the court, you feel the support from the crowd,” Kuznetsova said. “You play for your country, it motivates you and it helps you to find strength for victory.”Making her Fed Cup debut, Soler-Espinosa said her main goal in the match was to make Kuznetsova move a lot on the court and got tired in doing so.“I felt no pressure though it was a decisive game for the Russians,” Soler-Espinosa said. “I tried to win till the very end but Kuznetsova was stronger. We came here to fight and we’ve proved it.”Suarez Navarro rallied from 40-love in the opening game and won the rest of the games to close the set in 22 minutes. After an exchange of breaks early in the second set, the Spaniard broke decisively in the sixth game and wrapped up the win on her first match point as Petrova netted a forehand“We were 2-0 down after the first day and I had to (take a) risk to win today,” Suarez Navarro. “Now we have one point. I hope Silvia will also play better today.”After easy victories on Saturday, Russia captain Shamil Tarpischev replaced Sharapova—the original draw, who felt pain in her right arm on Sunday morning — with Petrova.Suarez Navarro said she was surprised with the substitution and added that “it was much better for me.”Petrova, who is 10-5 in Fed Cup matches and last played for Russia in 2009, couldn’t find her rhythm through the entire match. She made 40 unforced mistakes and had only eight winners.“It’s tough to play at full strength when you are told to step on the court at the last minute,” said Petrova, who was scheduled to play in the doubles match. “Psychologically it’s easier to play when you are tuned for the match. I couldn’t feel my game today.”Russia has won the Fed Cup title four times since 2004 and is 5-1 against Spain, which won the title five times between 1991 and 1998. [more]
