Kuznetsova Winless in Russian Shocker; Fed Cup Capsules

NETHERLANDS d. RUSSIA 3-1
Yow! It’s the Fed Cup upset of the year, or century, as the unheralded Netherlands comes into Moscow and comes out with a win. Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens upsets Ekaterina Makarova, and then No. 141-ranked Richel Hogenkamp ousts former world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova 10-8 in the third. Bertens hands Kuznetsova another loss in the third match and it’s game over man — a 3-0 Dutch sweep.
ADHEREL
“The thing is that throughout this whole tie, everything was going to the side of Holland,” Kuznetsova said. “Everything — line calls, net cords, drop shots — everything was going perfectly for them. I was unable to play my best, but I gave one hundred percent out on the court.”

CZECH REPUBLIC d. ROMANIA 3-2
The Czechs beat world No. 3 Simona Halep and Romania behind the strong singles play of Karolina Pliskova, who beat Halep in the opener, Monica Niculescu in the second singles, and cliched it in the doubles win with Barbora Strycova.

SWITZERLAND d. GERMANY 3-2
Belinda Bencic was a one-woman wrecking machine, winning both her singles, including a victory over Australian Open winner Angie Kerber, then clinched it in the doubles with world No. 1 doubles player Martina Hingis — without dropping a set.

FRANCE d. ITALY 4-1
Sara Errani went 0-2 in singles, and Camila Giorgi won the only point for Italy in the opening-match singles as the underrated Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia carried the day in singles.

World Group II

BELARUS d. CANADA 3-2
Victoria Azarenka and Genie Bouchard both bailed on their countries, so this was a battle of also-rans. If you don’t know the name Aliaksandra Sasnovich, you know her now after the Belarussian won both her singles, then clinched it in the doubles for the visiting team.

AUSTRALIA d. SLOVAKIA 3-2
Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oy oy oy! Sam Stosur takes over for the Aussies, winning both her singles then clinching it in the doubles with Casey Dellacqua in three sets.

USA d. POLAND 4-0
After the withdrawal of Aggie Radwanska the result was never in doubt as Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens don’t drop a set in singles in Hawaii.

SPAIN d. SERBIA 4-0
Former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic doesn’t play, and former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic gets housed, failing to win a set as Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro clean up for Spain on the Serbian hardcourts.