Fed Cup 2009 - Italy ease to solid lead over Russia

Eurosport - Sat, 25 Apr 16:59:00 2009

Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone gave Italy a shock 2-0 lead over champions Russia after day one in the Fed Cup semi-finals.

Italy's Flavia Pennetta reacts after winning her Fed Cup semi-final tennis match against Anna Chakvetadze of Russia in Castellaneta Marina - 0

Pennetta (pictured) swept past an out-of-sorts Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 6-0 in windy conditions at Castellaneta Marina before Schiavone fought back to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 1-6 6-2 6-3.

Italy, the only nation apart from Russia to have lifted the Cup in the last five years thanks to their 2006 triumph, need to win just one of Sunday's three matches to reach the final.

"I'm half happy. I'll keep the rest of my happiness for tomorrow," Italian captain Corrado Barazzutti told Rai TV. "All three of the games we play tomorrow are going to be very hard."

After taking a scrappy first set, Pennetta started to play with assurance on the clay in the second and found little resistance from 22nd-ranked Chakvetadze, who was handed a singles berth after Vera Zvonareva pulled out injured.

The Russians, without new world number one Dinara Safina and third-ranked Elena Dementieva, looked on course to level the tie when Kuznetsova dominated the first set of her match at the southern Italian coastal resort.

But the world number nine seemed to rush the points and Schiavone took advantage to level the contest.

The Russian's error count piled up and the combative Schiavone was rewarded for never giving up, even after losing her serve at the start of the deciding set.

"I didn't play my best tennis. I came here from playing on hard courts so it was very confusing," said Kuznetsova.

"The conditions were slow in the first set, got faster in the second and slowed down again in the third. It's very disappointing to be 2-0 down but we are not out of it yet."

The reverse singles matches take place on Sunday, when the ties will be wrapped up by the doubles encounters.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. what is happenig with women's tennis recently.?­ since safina no1. no further actions, the spark is­ already gone with safina no 1, what a shame

    From Augustine A, on Sun 26 Apr 8:55PM

  2. foto looks very little like FLAVIA PENNETTA
    but it­ could be
    they should have printed a better foto­ choice

    where is elegant Elena Dementieva ..?? best­ wishes to Anna for return match

    From startoratora, on Sun 26 Apr 8:08AM

  3. is that really flavia in the photo? has she grown­ taller? how come all the flavias we see are so pretty?

    From sanchez.santos, on Sat 25 Apr 10:54PM

  4. is that really flavia in the photo? has she grown­ taller?

    From sanchez.santos, on Sat 25 Apr 10:53PM

  5. Vamos!! Our girls are the best! this is italian spirit­ of fight! go on and catch the final win!
    Tennis, what­ a wonderful sport, but if you don't know a new­ sport is born: beach tennis. This new sport was born in­ Italy about ten years ago and now is gaining popularity­ all around the world. If you don't believe me just­ have a look
    at the ITF website. This year for the­ first time there will be the beach tennis world­ championships in the same days and location of Master­ 1000 of Rome at the historic Foro Italico. A wonderful­ sport has come. Get involved! Bye bye
    Federex from Rome

    From Federico A, on Sat 25 Apr 7:22PM

  6. in a way this is a huge surprise and in a way it's­ not a surprise at all.

    but still, would be a huge­ upset and a delicious opportunity for a country besides­ Russia to take the prize. Russia is the Gold Standard­ in Fed Cup play.... the undisputed queens. and they­ still have a chance.

    From jay, on Sat 25 Apr 6:01PM

  7. Come on Sveta don't let Russia down turn things­ around tomorrow.Good luck.

    From AJ, on Sat 25 Apr 5:45PM
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