Russia retain Fed tennis Cup
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
MADRID, Sept 15 (AFP): Russia retained their Fed Cup crown here Sunday to make it four titles in five years when Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to give the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead over Spain.
Olympic Games bronze medallist Vera Zvonareva and former US Open winner Kuznetsova had set up the win Saturday in beating Garrigues and Carla Suarez Navarro to establish a 2-0 lead.
Kuznetsova then applied herself to the task once again with gusto to hand Russia the crown and render academic the second reverse singles between Zvonareva and Navarro and the doubles between Nuria Llagostera and Virginia Ruano Pascual and Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova.
Kuznetsova, 7th in the WTA rankings, had to dig in for her win in 2hr 30min as 29th-ranked Medina tried to rescue some home pride.
But although she managed to capture the opening set Kuznetsova stepped up a gear to polish off the win.
Kuznetsova put her win down to an improved service showing.
"I served stronger than yesterday and that helped me. We have two players in the top ten and so we have a little higher level than them.
"I blew a bit hot and cold but to hand the win to my country is just extraordinary for me. I love playing Fed Cup. I've not had the best year but I am still in the top ten," said the Russian, who added she was going to spend more time training in Moscow and less in Barcelona.
"I love Spain but I really miss my country. It's time to make the change," said Kuznetsova.
Medina meanwhile lamented being unable to hold on after her good start, adding that the Spaniards had given it their best shot throughout the tournament.
"It was a tough match and I was never really close. She really stepped up on the big points (but) we can't criticise this team - we did very well to get to the final with these players and we can be satisfied overall," the Spaniard insisted as the hosts failed to pick up their sixth Fed Cup title.
Olympic Games bronze medallist Vera Zvonareva and former US Open winner Kuznetsova had set up the win Saturday in beating Garrigues and Carla Suarez Navarro to establish a 2-0 lead.
Kuznetsova then applied herself to the task once again with gusto to hand Russia the crown and render academic the second reverse singles between Zvonareva and Navarro and the doubles between Nuria Llagostera and Virginia Ruano Pascual and Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova.
Kuznetsova, 7th in the WTA rankings, had to dig in for her win in 2hr 30min as 29th-ranked Medina tried to rescue some home pride.
But although she managed to capture the opening set Kuznetsova stepped up a gear to polish off the win.
Kuznetsova put her win down to an improved service showing.
"I served stronger than yesterday and that helped me. We have two players in the top ten and so we have a little higher level than them.
"I blew a bit hot and cold but to hand the win to my country is just extraordinary for me. I love playing Fed Cup. I've not had the best year but I am still in the top ten," said the Russian, who added she was going to spend more time training in Moscow and less in Barcelona.
"I love Spain but I really miss my country. It's time to make the change," said Kuznetsova.
Medina meanwhile lamented being unable to hold on after her good start, adding that the Spaniards had given it their best shot throughout the tournament.
"It was a tough match and I was never really close. She really stepped up on the big points (but) we can't criticise this team - we did very well to get to the final with these players and we can be satisfied overall," the Spaniard insisted as the hosts failed to pick up their sixth Fed Cup title.