Kuznetsova rescues Russia, Czechs eye final return

Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated fellow former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to pull four-time champions Russia level with Serbia in their Fed Cup semi-final in Moscow.

Ivanovic went into the rubber leading her opponent 6-2 in previous encounters, but crucially it was Kuznetsova who won their only Fed Cup match-up in 2010 and her liking for the tournament continued on Saturday.

“All three sets today were completely different,” Kuznetsova said. “In the first I was in complete control and took it easily. I was so glad that I found my best tennis that I lost concentration in the second allowing her to level.“But in the third I was in command again and won the deciding point.”

The winner of the semi-final will likely face holders Czech Republic in November's final after the Czechs opened a 2-0 lead over Italy in Ostrava.Jelena Jankovic had beaten Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-3 earlier on Saturday to put Serbia 1-0 up.“I lost three of my previous meetings with Nastia (Pavlyuchenkova) on hardcourts,” Jankovic said.

“But this time we played in red clay and though the court was not perfect it fits my tennis better than any other surface.” Lucie Safarova and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova handed holders Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Italy in their semi-final.

Safarova, the world number 23, beat 12th-ranked Francesca Schiavone, the former French Open winner, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 before world number three Kvitova saw off Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3.

“This point was very important for us. Leading 2-0 after day one is an excellent result and it will definitely give us a boost, but we need one more point,” said Kvitova, who faces Schiavone in the first reverse singles on Sunday.

The Czechs beat Russia 3-2 in Moscow last November to win their first Fed Cup trophy since their country split with Slovakia in 1993.

In the World Group play-offs, where the winners will play in the elite division next season, the USA took a 2-0 lead over Ukraine, Japan led Belgium 2-0, Spain and Slovakia were locked at 1-1 while Australia opened a 2-0 lead over Germany.

AFP