Lopsided Fed Cup Semis Birth Lopsided Final to Come
Posted on April 27, 2008
Fed Cup matches are often lopsided affairs, and this weekend was no exception as Russia and Spain swept to 3-0 live-rubber wins in the Fed Cup semifinals.
Defending champ Russia hosted the U.S. on the red clay, and without the Williams sisters or Lindsay Davenport, the Russians had little trouble with the inexperienced line-up of Vania King and Ahsha Rolle in singles. In the first Sunday singles, the Russians even inserted lower-ranked Vera Zvonareva, a historic big-match choker, but the Russian came through in three sets against King.
"I was able to overcome the early nerves and score the winning point for our team," Zvonareva said.
Spain was a bit of a surprise, sweeping China on their home hardcourts. But no matter what surface Spain hosts Russia on in the final, anything besides a 3-0 sweep would be a shocker.
The U.S. won both of the dead rubbers against Russia, with Fed Cup debutante Ahsha Rolle topping Elena Vesnina 6-3 6-4, and Liezel Huber and King winning the doubles 7-6, 6-4 over Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vesnina.
Russia captain Shamil Tarpishchev says Maria Sharapova, who was not needed against the Americans who could not field a Top 100-ranked singles players, will play in the final.
China was hoping to reach their first Fed Cup final.
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