Russia won its fourth Fed Cup in five years Sunday, defeating Spain when Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the title.
The victory gave Russia an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the top team event in women’s tennis.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Kuznetsova said. “Even though I wasn’t playing my best game, it’s so important for me to win this point for the team.”
The Russians made it 4-0 when Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova downed Nuria Llagostera Vives and Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-1 in doubles.
Kuznetsova used powerful ground strokes to race ahead 4-0 in the first set. Medina Garrigues regrouped to lead 6-5 and served out the set on a clear sunny day at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid’s clay court.
The players traded breaks to reach 3-3 in the second set before Kuznetsova won three straight games to even the match. She then got a late break in the third to secure the victory.
“She’s a player who puts great weight on her deliveries,” Medina Garrigues said. “I gave it my all.”
Kuznetsova was confident her stamina would carry her against an opponent who refused to wilt.“I gave her a chance to get back,” she said. “I started to play a little bit of baseline tennis against her game. I felt so much more energy. knew my fitness was better.”
On Saturday, Vera Zvonareva beat Medina Garrigues, and Kuznetsova defeated Carla Suarez Navarro.
(Via Yahoo! Sports)
Fernando Verdasco won his first title of the season and third of his career on Saturday defeating American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-6 (6) at the Pilot Pen tennis championship.
Meanwhile, in the women's singles Caroline Wozniacki won her second consecutive beating Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-4 in the final tune-up for the U.S. Open.
In men's the doubles final, Jurgen Melzer and Julian Knowle took down Bruno Soared and Kevin Ullyett 6-4, 7-6 (3).
In the women's doubles final, Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez defeated defeated Iveta Benesova and Lucie Hradecka, 6-2, 7-5.
