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Post by hellanvodka on Sept 15, 2007 19:43:34 GMT 3
Russia 2----0 Italy
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Post by hellanvodka on Sept 15, 2007 19:47:30 GMT 3
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Post by hellanvodka on Sept 15, 2007 19:49:05 GMT 3
 what a fatherly love from Tarpi.. i am so touched!!! |
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Post by hellanvodka on Sept 16, 2007 18:20:56 GMT 3
Russia takes its third Fed Cup
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 the opening 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.¡±
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.
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Post by hellanvodka on Sept 16, 2007 18:21:42 GMT 3
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Post by hellanvodka on Sept 16, 2007 18:22:51 GMT 3
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Post by Mrs. Fabregas on Sept 16, 2007 22:33:12 GMT 3
 Woooweeee!!!!! Great job and performance by the girls!!!!! Now let's make it a double for Tarpi!!!!!! |
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Post by Annie on Sept 17, 2007 12:40:18 GMT 3
watched it yesterday and it was wonderful ;D ;D ;D They totally deserved it ;D And was good to see Maria on the bench screaming her lungs out and jumping up and down ;D She looks so human when her Dad is not around  |
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Post by Alya10 on Sept 17, 2007 17:03:18 GMT 3
CONGRATS GIRLS!!!
Molodets!!
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Post by Annie on Jan 31, 2008 15:56:29 GMT 3
As a DC warm-up this weekend we have the FedCup where Russian ladies have travelled to Israel to face their national team. Latest Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will make her FedCup debut  World Group 2008 1st Round Israel Tennis Center - Canada Stadium, Ramat Hasharon, Israel Stadium Capacity: 5000 02 February - 03 February 2008 Day 1: 11 hrs (0900 hrs GMT) Day 2: 11 hrs (0900 hrs GMT) Surface: Hard (Acrylic) - Outdoors Ball Type: Wilson US Open Team RussiaMaria Sharapova Anna Chakvetadze Dinara Safina ;D Elena Vesnina Team IsraelShahar Peer Tzipi Obziler Keren Shlomo Julia Glushko COME ON GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Other ties this weekend World Group 2008 - 1st Round USA v Germany USA 02 Feb - 03 Feb China, P.R. v France China, P.R. 02 Feb - 03 Feb Italy v Spain Italy 02 Feb - 03 Feb World Group II 2008 - 1st Round Ukraine v Belgium Ukraine 02 Feb - 03 Feb Japan v Croatia Japan 02 Feb - 03 Feb Czech Republic v Slovak Republic Czech Republic 02 Feb - 03 Feb Argentina v Austria Argentina 02 Feb - 03 Feb |
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Post by Alya10 on Jan 31, 2008 16:07:17 GMT 3
Team RussiaMaria Sharapova Anna Chakvetadze Dinara Safina ;D Elena Vesnina You forgot to mention the secret weapon... an undercover Dima Tursunov on a secret mission RFLMAO ;D ;D Go girls!! |
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Post by Annie on Feb 1, 2008 12:17:24 GMT 3
DINARA IS SCHEDULED TO PLAY SINGLES ;D ;D ;D
Rookie Sharapova makes Fed Cup debut
The draw has neen been made for this weekend's World Group 1st round tie in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas between Israel and Russia with the order of play as follows.
Shahar Peer (ISR) v Dinara Safina (RUS)
Tzipi Obziler (ISR) v Maria Sharapova (RUS)
Shahar Peer (ISR) v Maria Sharapova (RUS)
Tzipi Obziler (ISR) v Dinara Safina (RUS)
Shahar Peer/Tzipi Obziler (ISR) v Elena Vesnina/Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)
The star attraction
If no injuries occur between now and Saturday afternoon, Maria Sharapova will make her Fed Cup by BNP Paribas debut.
This tie is a big first for many reasons. Obviously the main one and by far the loudest and flashiest, is the presence of Maria Sharapova. The 2008 Australian Open champion will for the first time in her already distinguished career put on the national uniform and play for her country.
In last years Fed Cup by BNP Paribas final between Russia and Italy in Moscow, Sharapova helped out the team as a sparing partner. Not being able to serve due to injury, the tall blond Russian with an American accent got a taste of Fed Cup tennis; “I loved the atmosphere at the finals with the crowd and the intensity of play and I can’t wait to get out there”, said Sharapova. This time she is fit and healthy and raring to go. Along side her is world No. 7 Anna Chakvetadze, world No. 16 Dinara Safina and No. 53 Elena Vesnina.
Underdogs are ready to roar
The other huge first in this weekends tie, is the presence of Israel in the World Group. Never has this country gone so high and it is for them and their captain an outstanding achievement. Led on by Shahar Peer, ranked world No. 17 and recent Australian Open women’s doubles runner up, Israel understands and accepts its position as an underdog, but has the belief that something could happen. “We are very excited of being in the World Group after a long wait, but we want to beat the Russians”, says Peer.
With the huge home nation support in the Canada Stadium, Ramat Hasharon, the Russian’s will definitely be given a good run for their money when the action gets underway on Saturday.
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Post by Annie on Feb 1, 2008 12:27:04 GMT 3
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Post by Happiness on Feb 1, 2008 18:27:07 GMT 3
Thanks heap Annie for the updates!!! Hopefully the girls will start with a victory!!! ;D Can't wait to see Dina on action!!! DAVAI RUSSIA!!!  |
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Post by Alya10 on Feb 2, 2008 17:36:05 GMT 3
The tie is tied after Day 1 Israel 1 1 Russia R1 - S.PEER (ISR) def. D.SAFINA (RUS) 0-6 6-2 6-2 R2 - M.SHARAPOVA (RUS) def. T.OBZILER (ISR) 6-0 6-4 Tough crowd in Israel  Too bad Dina couldn't held her focus throughout the match, but Maria made an impeccable debut. Well done |
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