Russia one step away from Fed Cup triumph
Published 13 September, 2008, 20:56
Russia’s tennis team have got off to the best possible start as they aim to claim the Fed Cup title for a fourth time in five years. They've won both opening singles against Spain on the outdoor clay courts in Madrid.
Vera Zvonareva got the ball rolling for Russia, against Spain's number 1, Anabel Medina-Garrigues.
And the World Number 8 started well, wrapping up the first set 6-3, after capitalizing on an early break.
Zvonareva again went up a break at the start of the second set, but this time Garrigues was able to mount a come-back.
But the Russian's more aggressive game took its toll on Medina Garrigues, who withered under the barrage of forehand winners. She lost the next four games to give Zvonareva the match – 6-3 6-4.
It took the Olympic Bronze medalist just over an hour and a half to put Russia into a 1-0 lead.
Attention then switched to Svetlana Kuznetsova, who was taking on Carla Suarez in the second rubber of the day.
The Russian hasn't been in the best form recently, but it didn't show against her Spanish opponent, as she raced to take the opening set 6-3.
The World Number 7 found the going even easier in the second, dropping just one game, as Suarez was just unable to cope with Kuznetsova's power from the baseline.
So Russia is now 2-0 up. Shamil Tarpischev’s team needs just one more win, to seal yet another Fed Cup triumph.
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