06/02/2012 16:13 CEST - FED CUP 2012

Kvitova is enough for the Czech Republic

kvitova127

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The first singles match of the second day was enough for the Czech Republic to win the tie against Germany. Three wins out of three matches and all three in three sets (from a set down).

It was a jump back in time at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart during German tennis' heyday of Becker and Stich, when indoor tournaments were played on extremely fast surfaces and matches were dominated by the serve. Even the line judges were from the that partisan pre-Hawk-Eye era. At least five calls were overruled by the chair umpire Alison Lang or Hawk-Eye and all were calls that favoured the home player.

Kvitova def. Lisicki 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-1

First set
The match was dominated by the serve, particularly the first set. With the exception of Kvitova's first service game, she was 15-40 down (Lisicki was able to place two deep backhand returns) only to recover with three serves to Lisicki's weaker forehand, the server nearly always made the point. The exchanges were very short, often just one shot, but the rare longer rallies were entertaining even if they didn't affect the match. As the set went on the match became more lively as Lisicki started to play her trademark drop-shots and Kvitova was going to the net more often. There were no break points nor advantage games so the set went quickly to the tiebreak in 40 minutes.
Kvitova made a couple of unforced errors on her serve. Lisicki then played two of her favourite set plays, first a drop-shot followed up at the net by a volley and then a down the line backhand to go 6-2 up. She won the set with a powerful serve that Kvitova failed to control. The only point that the Czech won on her serve was with an ace.
Lisicki won the first set 7-6.

Second set
Kvitova started the second set holding her serve with ease, but she could not make the break in the following game missing a crosscourt backhand. Game after game the players were reading the serves more and the returner was reaching 30 more often. Kvitova had to face a dangerous break point at 3 all and Lisicki had to play a very difficult volley at 30 all 3-4.
The match turned when Lisicki fell apart when she was serving to stay in the set at 4-5. Kvitova managed to make four good returns, but Lisicki's three unforced errors were fatal for the German as she lost her serve to love.
Kvitova won the second set 6-4.

Third set
Kvitova held her serve easily to start the final set and she was able to put pressure on the German's serve straight away. Lisicki was able to save three break points in the second set (the third with a two forehands that bounced on the baseline), but it was clear that the German was struggling and Kvitova attacked a weak second serve on the fourth break point with a ferocious return. Break 2-0 Kvitova. The next two games were won by the server, but the fourth game was the best of the match. Petra served well but Sabine was returning the Czech's serve very well. Lisicki was able to get a break point (her fourth overall) that Kvitova cancelled with a fast central serve that would have been enough usually, but Lisicki managed to place a decent return forcing Kvitova to close the point with a cross court forehand. The game went to advantages and Kvitova was able to secure the game when Lisicki was forced to play and miss a drop-shot (she broke her strings) and with a good serve. The German was unable to forget the missed chance as she lost her serve again sending the Czech to serve for the match at 5-1, which she did. Kvitova won 6-1 the final set.

It was a rare type of match for women's tennis. Kvitova never lost her serve and she gave up just 4 break points in the whole match.
Lisicki was more concentrated than yesterday, but she did show the same technical limits she has shown so far. Some of her shots looked improvised and it is difficult to know whether she will play a winner or an unforced error.
Kvitova made the difference by winning the important points, she was able to raise her game when needed.

(AGF)

RUSSIA vs SPAGNA 3-1

Suarez Navarro def. Petrova 6-0 6-3

The second day in Moscow started with the surprising news that Petrova was going to play instead of Maria Sharapova. It was a technical decision by captain Tarpischev, Maria wasn't injured, and it was a bad one.
Maybe Kuznetsova wasn't ready to play or maybe she underestimated her opponent, but Suarez Navarro dominated the match without having to play her best.
The first set lasted just 22 minutes which the Spanish player won 6-0. Petrova made just one winner in the whole set (1 ace in the second game) and 16 unforced errors. Every time the rally goes beyond three or four shots the Russian made a mistake, particularly with her backhand.
All Navarro had to do was keep to concentrated. She made just 6 winners and 8 unforced errors yet she won nearly triple the points in the set (25-9).
Petrova gave the Russians some hope when she broke the Spaniards serve in the first game of the second set making her first winner of the match (an excellent down the line backhand).
But it didn't last long. Petrova started to make mistakes again and Suarez Navarro broke the Russian and went 2-1 up. Petrova held her serve for the first time in the match in the following game, but the match trend was the the same, Navarro just had to put the ball over the net and eventually Petrova made a mistake.
Suarez Navarro broke again in the 6th game and then held her serve to go 5-2 up and then she went on to win the set 6-3.
It was an awful performance by Petrova. She made 40 unforced errors losing in straight sets in just 1 hour and 3 minutes.
SO the tie was 2-1 for Russia. It was all down to Svetlana Kuznetsova and Soler Espinoza who was chosen ahead of Parra Santonja by captain Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

Kuznetsova def. Soler Espinosa 6-2 4-6 6-3

The second singles match was completely different from the the first. Arantxa Sanchez put her faith in Silvia Solar Espinosa (WTA n.77) rather than Parra Santonja and Tarpischev instead confirmed Kuznetsova to try and achieve another Fed Cup semifinal.
The first set was finely balanced until the fifth game when Kuznetsova stepped up her game alternating powerful ground strokes with sudden runs to the net that surprise her opponent.
Solar Espinoza wasn't playing well but technical inferiority was showing as she lost four consecutive games handing the first set to the Russian 6-2 in 40 minutes.
The stats confirm the high quality of the match, 17 winners and 13 unforced errors for Svetlana and 10 winners and 16 unforced errors in the first set. The main difference between the two was the serve, the Russian served 79% of first serves and the Spaniard 58%.
The second set started as the first set ended, Kuznetsova won another three games going to 7 games in a row, but the Spanish player was slowly was starting to stay in the rallies from the base line and she was able to put in more winners, but Kuznetsova was 4-2 ahead.
In the seventh game Svetlana loses her focus, as she often does, and she put an easy drop-shot in the net at 15-30. Soler Espinoza took her chance to het back into the match when Kuznetsova made her third unforced error of the match.
The Russian loses control as if she was surprised by the Spaniards comeback. Solar Espinoza had two break points to then serve for the set, Svetlana cancelled the first with the aid of the net, but the Spaniard won the second with a stunning forehand. Solar Espinoza was in the zone and she held her serve to love winning the second set 6-4. The Russians were starting to look worried.
Kuznetsova took a bathroom break, but at the restart there was no improvement, Solar Espinoza was hunting down every shot and Kuznetsova was pushing from the base line without too much success. The match was becoming very complicated for the Russian.
The key moment of the match was at 2 all and serve for Kuznetsova. She was 15-40 and the ghost of a difficult doubles match was haunting the Russians, particularly Tarpischev. Svetlana gathered herself as she made 4 points in a row to save her serve.
That was the only chance that the Spaniard had to turn the match in her favour. In the eight game Solar Espinoza was 30-15 and 3 games to 4 behind when she lost three points consecutively. The last one was a tough rally that was ended by the Spaniard, but Kuznetsova challenged the call and Hawk-Eye proved the Russian was right.
Kuznetsova was on her way now as she won the final set to love, 3-1 Russia.

(Stefano Tarantino)

Other Fed Cup ties

Belgium vs. Serbia 2-3
Wickmayer def. Krunic 6-1 6-0
Jovanovski def. Flipkens 6-2 6-4

Jovanovski/Krunic def. V.Uytvanck/Wickmayer 7-6(2) 4-6 6-1

Italy vs. Ukraine 3-2
Schiavone def. Bondarenko 6-7(6) 7-5 6-4
Tsurenko def. Errani 6-1 3-0 ret.

Pennetta/Vinci def.Tsurenko/Savchuk 7-5 0-6 6-1

The Czech Republic will play Italy-Ukraine and Russia will play Serbia in the semifinals.

AGF and Stefano Tarantino