Fed Cup. Russia – The Netherlands – 0-2 – Chempionat.com

No Sharapova

In Moscow, launched the Federation Cup match Russia – Netherlands. In the capital came to Maria Sharapova , but its participation was initially called into question. More in Melbourne Mary said that is unlikely to come to court. In Moscow, she said that the decision will be made just before the draw. On the draw were named Ekaterina Makarova and Svetlana Kuznetsova for a single meeting, and Mary remained in the reserve due to a hand injury. “I think we have a very strong team and, despite the fact that I do not play, we have all the girls on the team can win matches. I know that they are trained, that all good mood and they will be ready, “- said Sharapova yesterday. Of course, without Mary the Russian team chances were very high. More than a simple opponent for the quarter-finals and think hard. Yes, the Dutch have won seven consecutive victories in the Fed Cup, but in the lower leagues. Have just return to the World Group – a great success for the wards Haarhusa Paul, who did not play in the league’s strongest since 1998.

However, for the first division at the Dutch women rather modest structure -. No tennis players of the top 100. If we talk about the Russian woman, then a hundred consists of eight girls, so that even the fourth part of our team is still stronger. In the first lot on the court “Olympic” came Ekaterina Makarova and Kiki Bertens .

Federation Cup. Quarterfinals

Russia – Netherlands -. 0-2

 Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) – Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) – 3:. 6, 4: 6

 Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) – Rihel Hogenkamp (Netherlands) – 6: 7 (4: 7), 7:.. 5, 8:10

Romania – Czech Republic – 1-1

 Simona Halep (Romania) – Carolina pliskova (Czech Republic) – 7:. 6 (7: 4), 4: 6, 2: 6

 Monica Niculescu (Romania) – Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) – 6. 3, 6: 4.

Germany – Switzerland – 1-1

 Andrea Petkovic (Germany) – Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) – 3: 6, 4: 6
.
 Angelique Kerber (Germany) – Timya Bachinsky (Switzerland) – 6. 1, 6:. 3

France – Italy – 1-1

 Kristina Mladenovic (France) – Camila Giorgi (Italy) – 6: 1, 4: 6, 1: 6
.
 Caroline Garcia (France) – Sara Errani (Italy) – 6: 3, 7: 5

Formally, it is the third number the Russian team and the leader of the guests, but, of course, Catherine was considered a clear favorite. . She missed the ending of the previous season, and in this kind of time to get in shape. In Melbourne, the Russian has reached the fourth round and lost to future semifinalist – Johanna Konta – in a very hard-fought encounter. “Preparations for the match went well, we had a lot of saturated training, so a good mood. I’ve never played against Bertens. I’m ready, I’d like to get out on the court and play, “-. Makarov said at a press conference

Nerves Makarova and good game Bertens

If Catherine we know, something about Kiki’s like we can not say . Her finest hour came in the tournament in Fez in 2012. Kiki won it by defeating including garbiñe muguruza and Simona Halep , but both, especially the Spaniard, had not yet been top tennis players. Then Bertens have been local successes – such as the semi-finals in Paris and fourth round, “Roland Garros”. However, in other cities in Kiki’s great success was not. In the second half of last season – with Wimbledon – Dutch won just one match. In this case it went better, at least in Hobart, she reached the quarterfinals.

At 14:00 Moscow time the girls took to the court. From the first games it became apparent that a very slow hard chosen for this meeting. In its filing Catherine in the first set, there was no advantage. Moreover, the entire batch is purely won only two points, one of which – an ace. Russia’s very worried, commits a gross error, and Kiki, of course, understood that the opponent is not in good shape. It Bertens seized the initiative, and Catherine, periodically tries to change that allowed more and more inaccurate. Sharapova looked for a while in a puzzled way, obviously not expecting that Russians in the first day of any such difficulties.

In the second set Makarova managed to reduce the number of rejects. Girls become easier to take their feed, particularly well adapted to the court Bertens, losing on the first pitch just four points. At the beginning of the game the Russians had a chance to make a break, but then Kiki added. She took someone else’s feed at 2: 2 and brought the meeting to win – 6: 3, 6: 4. Kiki to play an active, often won balls and held very solid match, but from Makarova, we expected more. Statistics won balls and revealing errors – 4-25. “Of course I’m worried. Somewhere a shame I could not show my best tennis and win. But I can say that Kiki played very well. It is today played better than I did. It is always exciting to play for my country, because it is another competition, team. There really want to win, the more we play at home, all the bleachers cheering for us. In the second set with the score 2: 1 I have two games in a row was at 40:15. If I took them, it would have a 4: 1 and would have been a different story. But I could not finish them in their favor. Then have fought tooth and nail to the last ball, but could not turn it all in their favor, “- said the Russian woman

The third marathon Kuznetsova

Then came onto the court Svetlana Kuznetsova. and Rihel Hogenkamp . In Rihel, unlike Bertens, no titles. She is just starting his career in the WTA, and it is the best result is the quarterfinals in Bastad in 2013. However, for the team she speaks perfectly – 14 wins in 18 matches. However, opponents Kuznetsova level she had not. Svetlana looked the clear favorite, but has pressed the goods account. To admit another mistake the Russian team could not afford.

The first party was very hard. Both girls played badly on the pitch and gave the three games in a row. Svetlana tried to act nice, combine, invent something, but there was no lightness in her game. Hogenkamp good move, managed to all balls and periodically create something. When 5: 4 she appeared set point at the reception, but the Russian was able to play it. However, the tie-break Kuznetsova failed. She often took the wrong decision, opened the court, a bad game in the summer and lost set – 6: 7. (3: 7)

It seemed that in the second game Svetlana found a way to success – began to play easier and did not to invent anything. Almost disappeared inaccuracies often she began to catch on protivohode rival, gained acceptance. Russian has quickly led – 4: 0, but then again slump. Kuznetsova unsuccessfully approached the balls all the time and beat from awkward positions. Rival noticed that Svetlana bad moves, and began to use it. Good combination held backhand crosscourt, and then transfer the line. Shorter also brought success – the Russian has reacted late and did not run so far. Over the four games she receives nothing. In 4: 4 on the court he left the doctor – Svetlana itself changed itself bandage on his left leg, and then put on new shoes. Still not allowed Kuznetsova to her peculiar errors. Often she went ahead without any training and just do not have time to get to the grid before the stroke Rihel.

Kuznetsova : This fellow – ran, dragging everything. I think she jumped higher than his head. I could not cope with the emotions. I had too many emotions, especially in the first set. Basically, I gave everything today

With great difficulty, the Russian has saved feeding, playing hidden match points. Following Svetlana has earned triple set point. However, the most important Dutch balls showed character: or held flow, or it was decided on the active punch to the back of the line. Kuznetsova has missed a total of five setbolov, but in the next game Russian has still managed to put the squeeze – 7: 5

By the time the third installment of the match lasted over two hours.. Outwardly, it seemed that Svetlana was tired a lot more. She often put her hands on his knees after the drawings and all kind showed that play it hard. However, the experience helped her in small tennis tricks. For example, a break after the first batch allowed to successfully start the second, and a little pause at 4: 4 made it possible to bring down the mood of a rival. However Hogekamp also knows these techniques. At 1: 1 in the third set, she called the doctor because of pain in his right leg. Then Svetlana allowed three errors in a row and gave her pitch. Return it failed in the end – at 4: 5. At that time, he helped Dutch, admitting in the tenth game of few mistakes. It became obvious that too much tired Hogenkamp – flow became just putting the ball into play, and Svetlana started to regularly take active.

With the score 6: 6 even the statistics a little confused and thought that this was the tie-break, and at 7: 6 in the stadium announcer announced that Svetlana has achieved victory. In the Davis Cup tie-breaks in the deciding set was canceled, but they stayed in the women’s tournament. Even with the tie-break Kuznetsova and Hogenkamp would set a record World Group. The longest match lasted 3 hours 35 minutes – in the quarterfinals in 2004 Els Callens beat Virginia Ruano Pascual with a score of 2: 6, 6: 4, 11: 9. Svetlana and Rihel to update the record did not have to play so long third set. After 14 minutes, it has been updated record of all time. Kuznetsova had already got in Australian Open history (4 hours 44 minutes with Francesca Schiavone – the longest match of the tournament) and the “Roland Garros” (3 hours and 50 minutes with the same Schiavone – the third result in the history of the tournament), and now rewrote the record books in Federation Cup.

Alas, a record win in these matches Kuznetsova could not. She gave way to battle both Schiavone and at 8: 8 from their mistakes and gave her pitch with Rihel. A little earlier, Svetlana was in the same ball on the success, but after hitting its shell fell in a small a miss. Hogenkamp missed two match points, but on the third Kuznetsova broke through into the net. It seemed that in the end the deciding Russian woman looked fresher, but it is too much wrong – 6: 7 (4: 7), 7: 5, 8:10. This is the sixth duration of the match in the history of women’s tennis. Kuznetsova three meetings are in the top-8. The idea is that on Sunday she will play with Bertens, but it is likely Anastasia Myskina put in its place Darya Kasatkina.

Unexpected results were on Saturday, not only in this game. So, the first racket of the countries defeated in the meeting Romania – Czech Republic. First Simona Halep lost to 2 hours 34 minutes pliskova Carolina, and then Monica Niculescu in straight sets to beat Petra Kvitova. Romanian was playing in his style, and almost no wrong, and return the most goals on another half. Peter could not establish the accuracy. In the other two quarter-finals the same score 1-1 – in pairs, Germany – Switzerland and France – Italy.