The first day of Fed Cup play came to a close, and let’s have a look at how it went. In the above screenshot you can see the World Group First Round results.
Australia and Italy are tied at 1-1 after Day 1, which featured two three-setters. Jarmila Groth defeated Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta defeated Samantha Stosur.
Russia lost both singles rubbers on home soil! Maria Sharapova lost to France‘s Virginie Razzano and Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Alize Cornet.
The Czech Republic has good prospects of improving their perfect 3-0 record against Slovakia, as Petra Kvitova beat Dominika Cibulkova, Lucie Safarova beat Daniela Hantuchova, and both matches were finished in two sets.
Belgium is doing great with the latest Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters in their team. The winner of the 2011 Australian Open scored a 6-0 6-4 victory over American Melanie Oudin, while Yanina Wickmayer saw off Bethanie Mattek Sands, 6-1 7-6(6).
I’d also like to mention the Fed Cup action happening in my city of Novi Sad, Serbia. As it can often happen in Fed Cup, new faces have a chance to draw attention to themselves. Last year it was the case with Bojana Jovanovski, who is now an established player ranked as high as No.54, with very bright prospects. Actually now she is the leader of Serbian team, with Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic absent, and she defeated Aleksandra Wozniack 6-4 7-5 during Saturday’s World Group II First Round. Still, the preceding match, encounter of 17-year-old Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, ranked 281st, and Canada’s world No.84 Rebecca Marino, was much more emotional.
Krunic lost the match 6-3 3-6 7-5, but only after showing lots of heart and fighting spirit. After dropping the first set, Krunic established a 3-0 lead in the second, and managed to take the match to the third set. Marino raced to a 5-0 lead, but it wasn’t over! The less experienced Krunic won five successive games and even had a break point for a 6-5 lead! But that’s when Krunic’s lost opportunities struck, and Marino won her service game and soon after the match.
Krunic started drowning in tears, knowing how close she was to victory. She shouldn’t be sad, though, as she showed great spirit and got herself back from what seemed to be a straightforward defeat in the deciding set. With more experience, more luck will come as well!
I watched the matches, too, and it’s too bad Krunic couldn’t finish her comeback completely, I kinda knew when Marino finally one that one game at 5:5, that it will be difficult for Aleksandra. But again, she has nothing to regeret too much, she showed great spirit, and all she needs is experience. Seeing Woznaik play, I think the decision will be made in doubles, which could be tricky for Serbia. And others… Russians, what are you doing? Being 0:2 down in Moscow against France without its best players, that’s just… embaressing.:(
Experience was the deciding factor. It’s the situation every player has to go through.
Russian result is like o_O 🙂
I am glad that Italians won – I like them a lot. Russia – France (2:2). It seems that Alize Cornet is in a good shape – it’s not easy to win Sveta in Moscow. What happened to Maria? I hope that she is not injured again.
Serbia – Canada 2:2. Bravo Bojana! She is very good tennis player and very nice young girl (but I had to say that Rebecca Marino seems like good tennis player and nice girl too – Serbian coach said that she is very good girl 🙂 ).
And Aleksandra broke my heart when I saw her crying yesterday but I believe that it will be precious experience to her. In a few minute Jovanovki/Krunic- Marino/Wozniak will start. Idemo!
Maja J, such a great showing from Krunic. She made this Fed Cup awesome. But also Jovanovski, with her solid showing! Last year she was a new face for general public and this year she was the leader. That’s amazing.
Oh Maria, I believe she simply lost, that’s it. She still has a long way to go. Hopefully, her moments of greatness will be back.
The Fed Cup certainly had some surprises. When will the tennis world accept the fact that Maria Sharapova is a has been. She has not performed well in 2 years. Losing this weekend proved it.
Italy is a force to reckon with. The rise to fame Schiavone is full of confidence and such a pleasure to watch play. Not to mention Flavia Pennetta.
The US, certainly can not be formiddable without the Williams sisters. Although I did feel as though they had a chance to win against Yanina Wickmayer. Bethany Matteck-Sands put up a good fight against the unstoppable Clijsters.